Thursday, June 28, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Public Speaking Post on Koegel
Mastering skills of public speaking
Several techniques can help the angst-filled captivate an audience with ease
Published June 25, 2007
I talk to people for a living, but ask me to speak in front of a group and, well, you know. Sweaty palms. Nervous laugh.
Many people dread public speaking and assume either you have the skills or not.
That's a misconception, says Annapolis resident Timothy J. Koegel, who heads a presentation and media consulting firm in Washington.
Based on his work with clients, Koegel recently wrote "The Exceptional Presenter," which provides techniques to improve communication skills at all levels, either one-on-one or in large groups. If anything, Koegel wants to get this message across in his book: "Anytime we open our mouths to speak, we're a public speaker."
Effective speaking skills may not break a career but it can establish one and help elevate it. Time and again, surveys have indicated that recruiters rank communication skills as the No. 1 quality they look for in potential employees.
Koegel has identified six characteristics that "exceptional presenters" share in an easy to remember acronym: OPEN UP!
Here are quick summaries:
# Organized: There are two aspects to this concept. First, structure and frame your message. Second, look organized.
# Passionate: Passion comes across in a presentation through body language, gestures and voice command, Koegel says.
"It's crisp and specific movements," he says. "Be more direct. If you're going to move, stop and square to the audience and look them in the eyes."
# Engaging: Koegel says our attention spans are short. He cites studies that found the average adult's undivided attention is 15 to 30 seconds.
Instead of maintaining the audience's attention, Koegel says the speaker must keep drawing them back in by making eye contact and using stories and examples, among other techniques.
# Natural: Be conversational instead of being scripted. That doesn't mean you give a presentation off the cuff, Koegel says. In fact, rehearse enough times and your speech can flow more smoothly, he says.
# Understanding your audience: Find out about the audience's interests and what you're expected to deliver in the presentation or talk.
# Practice: Pretty self-explanatory.
"Those who practice improve, those who don't -- don't. It's that simple," Koegel says.
From the mailbag: In response to a survey of late-excuses cited in a recent column, several readers wrote in with their own excuses. Decide for yourself whether you believe them.
Lillian, of Baltimore, swears this is true: "I was late because a hot dog wagon overturned on my entrance ramp, there were squished wieners everywhere. They're very slippery."
Kevin, a reader from Perry Hall, cited a vision problem.
"I just couldn't see coming in today," he wrote.
Several techniques can help the angst-filled captivate an audience with ease
Published June 25, 2007
I talk to people for a living, but ask me to speak in front of a group and, well, you know. Sweaty palms. Nervous laugh.
Many people dread public speaking and assume either you have the skills or not.
That's a misconception, says Annapolis resident Timothy J. Koegel, who heads a presentation and media consulting firm in Washington.
Based on his work with clients, Koegel recently wrote "The Exceptional Presenter," which provides techniques to improve communication skills at all levels, either one-on-one or in large groups. If anything, Koegel wants to get this message across in his book: "Anytime we open our mouths to speak, we're a public speaker."
Effective speaking skills may not break a career but it can establish one and help elevate it. Time and again, surveys have indicated that recruiters rank communication skills as the No. 1 quality they look for in potential employees.
Koegel has identified six characteristics that "exceptional presenters" share in an easy to remember acronym: OPEN UP!
Here are quick summaries:
# Organized: There are two aspects to this concept. First, structure and frame your message. Second, look organized.
# Passionate: Passion comes across in a presentation through body language, gestures and voice command, Koegel says.
"It's crisp and specific movements," he says. "Be more direct. If you're going to move, stop and square to the audience and look them in the eyes."
# Engaging: Koegel says our attention spans are short. He cites studies that found the average adult's undivided attention is 15 to 30 seconds.
Instead of maintaining the audience's attention, Koegel says the speaker must keep drawing them back in by making eye contact and using stories and examples, among other techniques.
# Natural: Be conversational instead of being scripted. That doesn't mean you give a presentation off the cuff, Koegel says. In fact, rehearse enough times and your speech can flow more smoothly, he says.
# Understanding your audience: Find out about the audience's interests and what you're expected to deliver in the presentation or talk.
# Practice: Pretty self-explanatory.
"Those who practice improve, those who don't -- don't. It's that simple," Koegel says.
From the mailbag: In response to a survey of late-excuses cited in a recent column, several readers wrote in with their own excuses. Decide for yourself whether you believe them.
Lillian, of Baltimore, swears this is true: "I was late because a hot dog wagon overturned on my entrance ramp, there were squished wieners everywhere. They're very slippery."
Kevin, a reader from Perry Hall, cited a vision problem.
"I just couldn't see coming in today," he wrote.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Post Life Stories in a Journal
Do you have a story journal? If no, please go to the store in next couple of hours and pick up a notebook or anything that you can journal your storie episodes.
That means when things happen, when you observe life write about it.
Are there lessons you learned? Is there a message to help someone else?
Try it for a week and see what happens!
It is also a great way to get material for articles.
This becomes great material for you to present in your presentations.
And guess what, there will not be any copyright issues because they are all YOUR STORIES.
Your Idea Coach
Rosie
PS
If anyone out there is reading this please tell me if you are keeping a story journal.
That means when things happen, when you observe life write about it.
Are there lessons you learned? Is there a message to help someone else?
Try it for a week and see what happens!
It is also a great way to get material for articles.
This becomes great material for you to present in your presentations.
And guess what, there will not be any copyright issues because they are all YOUR STORIES.
Your Idea Coach
Rosie
PS
If anyone out there is reading this please tell me if you are keeping a story journal.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Put a Storybook on DVD-Visit Steps on Hornerartworkshop.com
Do you have story that has pictures? If yes, you have a storybook. I mean have you thought about compiling your digital pictures, scanning in your illustrations and pictures from print film.
Attach these to your story. What story did you say? One of the stories you share in your speeches or workshop. Take a few minutes now to reflect on one of your favorite
stories.
Now, gather all the pictures that could make that story come alive.
Recently, I have been working on a project with my husband, Ray Horner Jr and friend,Kevin Thompson to create a storybook DVD.
Several years ago I wrote a children's story, Crumbsnatcher Gets a New Name.
This story has been shared with children and adults. That's right, I used this story to in workshops on communication, conflict and storytelling.
My hubby, who is a fine artist, created large , really large posters with illustrations of the story.
We scanned them in and added more and created music and produced at storybook DVD.
If you want more information and some of the steps we used go to my husband's blog.
If you have any questions give me an email or call. I will help you with some ideas.
The Idea Coach
Rosie Horner
Attach these to your story. What story did you say? One of the stories you share in your speeches or workshop. Take a few minutes now to reflect on one of your favorite
stories.
Now, gather all the pictures that could make that story come alive.
Recently, I have been working on a project with my husband, Ray Horner Jr and friend,Kevin Thompson to create a storybook DVD.
Several years ago I wrote a children's story, Crumbsnatcher Gets a New Name.
This story has been shared with children and adults. That's right, I used this story to in workshops on communication, conflict and storytelling.
My hubby, who is a fine artist, created large , really large posters with illustrations of the story.
We scanned them in and added more and created music and produced at storybook DVD.
If you want more information and some of the steps we used go to my husband's blog.
If you have any questions give me an email or call. I will help you with some ideas.
The Idea Coach
Rosie Horner
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
POST A PICTURE WITH YOUR ARTICLE ON SEARCHWARP.COM
I know I mentioned putting a picture with your article in an earlier post. Well, I tried it and posted a picture of the cover of one of my books. But the editors took it down. I was told that it looked like a commercial and that could only be done in the resource box.
That was ok, but not giving up I think there is still a way to post a picture and let it be an incentive for folks to go to your resource links below.
This is the link to my husband's article that was posted on searchwarp.com.
It is an encouragement for folks to create a dvd from their storybooks.
He included a picture from the storybook.
The resource box asks folks to go to his blog, http://www.hornerartworkshop.com for step-by-step details.
Hopefully, the editors let it stay up.
So give it a try when you can!
Rosie Horner
That was ok, but not giving up I think there is still a way to post a picture and let it be an incentive for folks to go to your resource links below.
This is the link to my husband's article that was posted on searchwarp.com.
It is an encouragement for folks to create a dvd from their storybooks.
He included a picture from the storybook.
The resource box asks folks to go to his blog, http://www.hornerartworkshop.com for step-by-step details.
Hopefully, the editors let it stay up.
So give it a try when you can!
Rosie Horner
Monday, June 18, 2007
Put Interaction in Your Presentation with A Quesionaire!
Did you know that a simple questionnaire can pump up the volume in your workshop regardless of the topic? Plus, the questionnaire will help you stay focused on your presentation outline.
I have found that a questionnaire given prior to the presentation can provide a strategic outline. The number of questions should be based on the amount of time that will be spent on the session. The order of the questions should reflect the order of the intended presentation.
As the answers are reviewed for each question additional material is provided, if needed. Incentives for each correct answer and encouragement for the efforts are critical for this technique.
How many questions are required?
The number of questions will depend upon the time you have to conduct the workshop. I would suggest using five questions if you only have one hour. If you have more than an hour to conduct the presentation consider using 10 questions.
What things are important to remember in the questionnaire development?
• Construct TRUE OR FALSE questions rather than open-ended or multiple choice. This will enable the respondents to answer the questions quickly.
• Arrange the questions in the order of your presentation. For example, if you plan to cover the definition of Brain Injury at the beginning of your presentation then develop a question related to a popular myth regarding the subject. Note: Each question should relate to a topic on your presentation outline.
• Construct questions that will enable you to transition to a prop, demonstration, video or lecture.
• Use “audience friendly words” in your questionnaire. These are words that will be understood by the audience your audience. They may have a technical term but that term can be used to introduce a definition. For example, FASD means….true or false?
• Decide on the supporting handouts and materials that will reinforce your topic point related to the question.
What are some suggestions for making the process engaging?
• Offer a grand prize for anyone who gets all of the questions correct. This will instill in each person the desire to hear the entire presentation to assess if they have won the prize.
• Use the honor system and allow people to provide the correct answer verbally while keeping their papers. This will encourage involvement.
• Ask, “How many of you said true?” How many said false?” Then give the correct answer. Ask someone to share their reasoning for the answer.
• Provide a prize for people who have a good answer. Note: Prizes can be those incentives related to your topic that you were planning to distribute. For example, if you give out pins with a health message on it then provide it at selected times during your presentation. Be sure that every participant receives the pen before they leave the presentation.
• Acknowledge everyone by giving them a prize. If you have given a prize to all the people who say they have gotten all the answers right then also give a different prize to those who have less that perfect scores.
The questionnaire strategy not only gives you an opportunity to present your material in a creative way but it will increase the involvement of your audience.
I have found that a questionnaire given prior to the presentation can provide a strategic outline. The number of questions should be based on the amount of time that will be spent on the session. The order of the questions should reflect the order of the intended presentation.
As the answers are reviewed for each question additional material is provided, if needed. Incentives for each correct answer and encouragement for the efforts are critical for this technique.
How many questions are required?
The number of questions will depend upon the time you have to conduct the workshop. I would suggest using five questions if you only have one hour. If you have more than an hour to conduct the presentation consider using 10 questions.
What things are important to remember in the questionnaire development?
• Construct TRUE OR FALSE questions rather than open-ended or multiple choice. This will enable the respondents to answer the questions quickly.
• Arrange the questions in the order of your presentation. For example, if you plan to cover the definition of Brain Injury at the beginning of your presentation then develop a question related to a popular myth regarding the subject. Note: Each question should relate to a topic on your presentation outline.
• Construct questions that will enable you to transition to a prop, demonstration, video or lecture.
• Use “audience friendly words” in your questionnaire. These are words that will be understood by the audience your audience. They may have a technical term but that term can be used to introduce a definition. For example, FASD means….true or false?
• Decide on the supporting handouts and materials that will reinforce your topic point related to the question.
What are some suggestions for making the process engaging?
• Offer a grand prize for anyone who gets all of the questions correct. This will instill in each person the desire to hear the entire presentation to assess if they have won the prize.
• Use the honor system and allow people to provide the correct answer verbally while keeping their papers. This will encourage involvement.
• Ask, “How many of you said true?” How many said false?” Then give the correct answer. Ask someone to share their reasoning for the answer.
• Provide a prize for people who have a good answer. Note: Prizes can be those incentives related to your topic that you were planning to distribute. For example, if you give out pins with a health message on it then provide it at selected times during your presentation. Be sure that every participant receives the pen before they leave the presentation.
• Acknowledge everyone by giving them a prize. If you have given a prize to all the people who say they have gotten all the answers right then also give a different prize to those who have less that perfect scores.
The questionnaire strategy not only gives you an opportunity to present your material in a creative way but it will increase the involvement of your audience.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Power Up Powerpoint in Gmail
If you do not already have a gmail account with google please get one!!!
It is FREE. Plus, I just saw the announcement that gmail has increased the space you have for video attachments to 20 megs. PLUS, your POWERPOINT attachments open as a slide show. That means you no longer have to download the file.
Super WOW!
So take a few minutes and check out all the other cool features. You can still keep your other email accounts but consider gmail as another option.
I am not going to start exploring the other features.
Your Idea Coach
Rosie Horner
It is FREE. Plus, I just saw the announcement that gmail has increased the space you have for video attachments to 20 megs. PLUS, your POWERPOINT attachments open as a slide show. That means you no longer have to download the file.
Super WOW!
So take a few minutes and check out all the other cool features. You can still keep your other email accounts but consider gmail as another option.
I am not going to start exploring the other features.
Your Idea Coach
Rosie Horner
Sunday, June 03, 2007
PAY ATTENTION TO COPYRIGHT
There is a FREE panel discussion on the site belonging to MIT on copyright issues related to teaching and research. Special thanks to Carole Copeland Thomas, a radio talk show host, for sharing info about the open classes at http://.ww.MIT.EDU
Rosie
Your Idea Coach
Rosie
Your Idea Coach
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