Speakers can open their presentation using one of a host of methods. So why do most non-professional speakers begin their speech with those attention-grabbing words, “Ah, I am so-in-so, ah . . . um”? Beginning your speech with filler words such as “ah” or “um” immediately tells your audience that you are an untrained speaker. In a flash, you’ve lost credibility as a speaker, or even worse, as an expert in your field, and your audience has taken a mental exit. You might as well be talking to an empty …

First, the square wooden object placed at the center of the room is properly called a lectern, not a podium. The word podium comes from the word podiatry which means: the care of the human foot, the diagnosis and treatment of foot disorders. Therefore, a podium is a stage you stand on not what you stand behind. Webster’s dictionary definition of a podium is: a small platform for the conductor of an orchestra, or for a public speaker. Now you are among only 9% of the speakers out there that …

Great speakers seem to present to an audience effortlessly, without a drop of sweat on their brow, not a flutter in their voice, and no bungled words. They hold us in awe, captivate us, leave us hanging on their every word and easily persuade us to respond to anything they ask of us.
If you are one of these great speakers, you’re one of a tiny percentage of people who are not afraid to speak in public, one of the top four fears Americans acknowledge.
The tragedy is that, for most of …

Many factors come into play when renting a space for your event. For now, we are going to focus on hotel contracts, because hotels are still the most popular and profitable place to host an event.
When renting a space at a hotel, you will first speak to the Director of Sales for that hotel. The Director of Sales will personally meet with you. Take advantage of the fact that this person will treat you to lunch if you meet at lunchtime. This gives you an opportunity to sample the food …

1. Don’t put your entire speech on your slides.
Not only is this boring, but your audience will be able to see what you’re going to say. Instead, “bullet” or outline your high points. Remember, mystery creates interest.
2. Don’t read your slides word for word.
Your audience can read faster than you can speak. Paraphrasing instead will free you to connect to your audience.
3. Don’t use too much text.
Use no more that six bullets per slide and no more than six words per bullet. Use phrases, not sentences; otherwise, your audience will be reading and …