Use Your Password to Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking

To combat the fear of public speaking and overcome the negative voice in your head (that says, "You’re going to fail,” right before you open your mouth to present), I recommend using a positive affirmation or mantra.  

A mantra is a term borrowed from meditation and yoga that means a word or phrase that you repeat to yourself to focus your mind and energy. Your mantra should be personally meaningful to you and should be a phrase that you can believe.  

You use your mantra to drown out that negative voice and boost your confidence while you’re building your presentation skills. 

Since it takes practice to get used to saying your mantra instead of listening to that negative voice, so why not make it your computer password? Anytime you log in, you will be reminded of the positive statement.  

You can change some characters so it’s not easy to hack. For example, if your mantra is “I’ve got this,” then your password could be: IVg0thi$

Or if your mantra is RESPECT (from the Aretha Franklin song), then your password could be: Re$4ect

Have fun coming up with different mantras and passwords until you find one that resonates with you and is easy to remember.  You’ll be on your way to more confident public speaking, using a secure log-in.  So you get cyber security and confidence building all in one!

For more on this topic, see my article, Drown Out That Negative Voice in Your Head

Gilda to present Developing Leadership Presence on 7/31

I will be presenting “Developing Leadership Presence: Confidence, Competence and Composure” to Mondays @ 7 Networking Group on July 31st.

Description
To be successful as a leader, you have to know what you’re talking about, come across as credible, demonstrate confidence without being perceived as cocky and maintain your self-control, especially under pressure. Whether you are setting strategic direction, managing change or leading people, you will achieve your goals if you can calmly and confidently tap into your knowledge and communicate clearly.

You will learn how to: 
• Communicate like a leader and be authentic, engaging and focused
• Prevent your non-verbal communication from undermining your message
• Demonstrate your expertise and establish credibility
• Discover how to react quickly and effectively to the unexpected

Meetings are free and open to the public, so bring a friend!

http://www.mondaysat7.org

Mondays at Seven is a job search networking group. Our goals are to energize our members' job search process, present programs and resources that will benefit our members in their job search, leverage the group's alumni as a continuing resource, and "pay it forward" to each other and the community.

Meetings are free and open to the public.

SCHEDULE

• 7:00am-7:40am Networking 
• 7:40am-8:00am Announcements
• 8:00am-9:00am Presentations**
• 9:00am-9:30am Networking and Clean Up

Address and Directions

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

OF WESTPORT AND WILTON

49 Weston Rd, Westport, CT (Merritt exit 42)

4 Presenter Mistakes to Avoid, Or Please Don't "Vomit" on Your Audience

by Gilda Bonanno LLC 

At the end of my session at a conference, one of the audience members came up to tell me about a terrible session she had attended earlier in the day.  She said, "The presenter vomited his content on the audience.  It was awful.  I would have walked out if I wasn't sitting in the front row."  That's pretty strong language!  Of course, I had to ask for the details of what made her feel "vomited" on by the presenter.

Here are that presenter's top four mistakes, as described by the audience member - and what you can do to avoid them:

Presenter Mistake #1: "The content was disorganized."

Your presentation should have a clear beginning, middle or end.  It sounds so simple, yet so many presenters fail to organize their material clearly.  Follow the old adage, "tell them what you're going to tell them, tell them, and tell them what you told them." It should be easy for the audience to follow you and understand how your points relate to each other and your overall message.

Presenter Mistake #2: "The slides were crowded and hard to read."

If the audience has to struggle to read your slides, they will struggle to understand your presentation.  For the sake of your audience members' eyesight, use large font (larger than you think you need to use) and only a few bullet points on each slide.  If you find yourself saying, "I know some of you can't read this…," then your slides are too crowded.  Or go one step better and use only high-quality photos or images (not cheesy clip art) and a few words in very large font.  Or be radical and don't use slides at all; remember, you are the message and the slides are just the visual aids. 

Presenter Mistake #3: "He only used examples from one area, which wasn't applicable to many in the audience."

The first rule of presentations is to know your audience, and in this case, the presenter doesn't seem to have done that.  Be sure that some of your examples come from the industries or fields represented in the audience.  For example, if you are speaking to an audience of accountants, avoid using examples only from sales.  Or if you're presenting to small business owners, don't just use stories from the corporate world.  To find relevant examples and stories, check out the industry websites, read the publications and talk to people in that field.  If there is an attendee list, interview a few audience members ahead of time

Presenter Mistake #4: "He said he wanted to make it interactive, but there was no opportunity for interactivity."

I've seen many presenters make this same mistake and the solution here is simple: don't claim that you want your presentation to be interactive unless you really mean it and have planned for the interactivity with specific questions, exercises or activities.  And just asking, "Is everyone with me?" does not count as being interactive – and anyway, it's rare that anyone will speak up and say "no."

If you avoid these four common presenter mistakes, you will be less likely to "vomit" your content on your audience!

Think of Yourself as a Speaker

Often, people tell me, "I'm not a speaker so I don't have to think about presentation skills."  I disagree.  I think we are all speakers – yes, even you. 

Whether you talk to a small or large audience or in a corporate, academic or community setting, you are a speaker.  If you give an update to a project team, speak up at a neighborhood meeting or organize a fundraiser, you are a speaker.  If you give a toast at a wedding, conduct orientation for new employees or train someone on a new process, you are a speaker.  If you teach a class, lead a conference call or accept a community award, you are a speaker.  If you answer a question at a meeting, attend a networking event or interact with potential clients, you are a speaker.

The point of thinking of yourself as a speaker is not to make you crazy. The point is for you to become conscious of your power to communicate.  Public speaking is a skill – it's not magic or a special gene.  And as a skill, it can be learned and improved.  You already have knowledge and expertise; public speaking gives you the ability to communicate that knowledge and expertise effectively to others.  And in so doing, you can have a positive impact on your career, your self-confidence and your community.  

Read the rest of my article on the Constant Contact community blog: 

https://community.constantcontact.com/t5/Member-Blog-Marketing/Think-of-Yourself-as-a-Speaker/ba-p/296403

7 Strategies for Successfully Working a Tradeshow

A client recently asked how he could be more successful when working his company’s booth at an upcoming industry tradeshow. Here are my 7 strategies for successfully working a tradeshow, exhibition or business expo: )    

1. Set realistic expectations

Popular tradeshows are attended by thousands of people and can be noisy, crowded and exhausting (for both attendees and exhibitors). As a tradeshow team, set expectations for what you want to achieve and how you will measure success. For example, collecting email addresses may be all you can do during busy, peak hours while during quieter hours, you may be able to have more in-depth conversations with people who stop by your booth.

Read the rest of the article on my LinkedIn profile here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/7-strategies-successfully-working-tradeshow-gilda-bonanno

Excellence

Photos from the Yale Entrepreneurial Institute

Recently, I had the privilege of presenting "Stand Out From the Crowd With Personal Branding" at the Yale Entrepreneurial Institute, in partnership with the Women's Business Development Council. 

The Yale Entrepreneurial Institute is a university department that helps entrepreneurs and innovators at Yale start scalable new ventures. http://yei.yale.edu/

The Women's Business Development Council is the leader for entrepreneurial and financial education in CT.  www.ctwbdc.org

www.gildabonanno.com 

Too Many Filler Words Undermine Your Credibility

by Gilda Bonanno LLC

Recently I attended a meeting where a senior leader of the organization offered opening remarks.  He spoke for 2 minutes and said “um” 24 times.  Doing the math, that’s an “um” approximately every 5 seconds.

Here’s how it would read if he wrote it out:

“Welcome to the um, XYZ meeting. We are happy to, um, have you here today.  We will, um, share the goals of, um, the new program and explain, um, the role you will play in the program.  And thank you, um, for being here because, um, the work you do is crucial to, um, the success of our clients.”

While a few “ums” are okay, this many of them completely distracted from what he was actually saying.  I started listening for the next “um” rather than trying to follow what his message.  It made him sound less confident, less definite and less clear.

Imagine that you are speaking in front of the Board of Directors at your company, the media or a potential client.  Do you want to sound confident and in command of your subject? Or do you want to allow your unconsciously-said filler words to undermine your credibility?

Filler words like “um,” “ah,” “you know” and “like” fill in the empty space while your brain thinks of what to say next and catches up with your tongue and your voice which are still producing sound. 

The solution is relatively easy.  First, you have to become aware that you using filler words.  

Then replace them with a short pause instead (the pause will feel like an eternity to you, but not to your audience) while you think of what to say next.  Get used to speaking in complete sentences and complete thoughts. 

One way to practice this is by practicing speaking out loud and when you hear yourself using a filer word, stop.  Then go back to the beginning of the sentence and try again, without the filler word.

A small investment of your time, energy and focus to fix your filler problem will have a big pay-off: you will sound more confident and the audience will be able to focus on you and your message. 

Or you can do nothing, and keep allowing your filler words to obscure your competence and undermine your credibility. 

7 STEPS TO CONFIDENT PUBLIC SPEAKING

Enter Email:

"Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure"

5 FAQs About How to Use Eye Contact

1)    Why should I use eye contact?

It helps you connect to the audience, no matter how big or small.  Whether you're speaking to an audience of four or four thousand, it can help to create a one-on-one communication experience for each audience member.  It also demonstrates your confidence and proves that the information resides in your head, not in your notes or on the slides.  And it helps you get feedback on how people are reacting to your presentation. 

2)    How long should I look at each person?

Approximately 5 seconds, which is about the time it takes to complete a thought. Then move on to another person.  Avoid darting your eyes around the room, trying look at everyone at the same time.  

3)    What if I'm uncomfortable looking at people's eyes?

It is very intimate to look in someone's eye; remember the old adage, "the eyes are the window to the soul"? If you're uncomfortable looking directly into their eyes, you can start by looking right above their eyes, at their eyebrows. The difference won't be obvious to them and as you practice and get more comfortable, you can try looking them straight in the eye.

4)    What if someone in the audience is uncomfortable with my looking at them? 
He or she can choose to look away. If someone repeatedly looks away, don't take it personally.  Just glance over him or her on your way to focusing on someone else.

5)    Who should I look at in the audience?

Your goal is to look at everyone and not ignore any section or person.  You want to communicate that each person in the audience is important so don't focus only on the highest-ranking person in the room or the one friendly face.  And since no one should be able to predict where you will look next, avoid what I call "tennis eyes," where you move your eyes from one side of the room to the other in a repetitive pattern, as if you were watching a tennis match.  

With practice, you'll be able to use eye contact with ease and convey your message to your audience with confidence.  

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3 Tips for Being an Effective Charity Spokesperson

Recently, I have attended several events where people from well-known charities have spoken to ask for money or volunteers.  One of the presenters asked me how she could improve her presentation.  So I developed three quick tips that could help her become a more effective charity spokesperson.  (And even if you're not in that role, these tips can help your presentations be more compelling and clear.) 

1.    Be selective with statistics.  One charity spokesperson used at least twenty statistics in a five- minute presentation.  The result was that the audience was overwhelmed and confused; there were too many statistics to remember and it was not clear how they related to each other or the presenter's overall message.  Instead, use only a handful of statistics that are the most impactful and most relevant to your audience.  For example, if you're asking for large donations, tell the audience the breakdown of how each dollar is spent. 

2.    Use stories. Another spokesperson shared a moving story of how he lost a family member to the disease for which the charity was working to find a cure.  Even if you don't have a personal story of your own to share, tell a story representative of a typical client that your charity helps.  The story should be true, short and relevant to your message. 

3.    Be clear about your message.  What is the call to action? Do you want the audience to donate money, volunteer time or do something else? Don't leave them guessing as to how they can help.  Mention your message at the beginning of your presentation, give examples or share stories that relate to it during your presentation and then remind the audience of it at the end of your presentation.  Make it easy for them to remember. 

Yes, I want a free subscription to Gilda's Email Newsletter

And send my FREE Special Reports "Seven Steps to Confident Public Speaking" AND "Six Mistakes to Avoid in Public Speaking"

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Stop the Negative Self-Talk When Presenting

When I work with people who are nervous about public speaking, I ask them to describe the voice they hear in their heads when they have to give a presentation.  Usually, they describe it as a negative voice saying things like:

• "Don't mess up!"
• "Who do you think you are?"
• "You're gonna make a fool of yourself!"

Sound familiar? Does the voice in your head sound like this? I call this voice the "Joy-Sucker" because it sucks the joy out of your work and your life. 

Now imagine a child comes to you and says, "I'm scared about the dance recital [or the baseball game or the school play]."  Would you say: 

• "Don't mess up!"
• "Who do you think you are?"
• "You're gonna make a fool of yourself!"

Never! Instead, you would be supportive, encouraging and positive – you would help him or her practice and prepare.

Now imagine a good friend says to you, "I'm so nervous about that big presentation I have to give next week." Would you say:

• "Don't mess up!"
• "Who do you think you are?"
• "You're gonna make a fool of yourself!"

Never! You would be supportive, encouraging and positive.  You would say:

• "It will be ok."
• "They selected you to present because you know your stuff."
• "I'll help you practice."

So why do you think it's ok to speak to yourself with negative, critical words that you would never say to a child or a friend?

The next time you start spewing negatives at yourself before you have to present, think of the helpful and supportive words you would say to a child or a friend – and then use them on yourself. 

Replacing your negative self-talk with positive self-talk will help you feel more confident and allow you to access your knowledge and experience so you can be a more effective presenter.

(For more on how to develop a positive mantra to replace the Joy-Sucker voice, see http://gildabonanno.blogspot.com/2010/04/public-speaking-fear-drown-out-that.html)

Cut Out Your Sloppy Language When Presenting

Language is a tool that helps you communicate your message to your audience.  Sloppy and imprecise language, however, can interfere with your communication.   Here are six tips for eliminating sloppy language:

1.    Mind your grammar

You don't have to be a grammarian to follow basic grammar rules.  I'm not talking about split infinitives or dangling participles, but basic grammar like verb tenses and pronoun usage.  Avoid grammar mistakes such as, "we was going" or "him and me went." Check out Lynn Gaertner-Johnston’s blog http://www.businesswritingblog.com/ for grammar rules for writing that are also applicable for speaking. 

2.    "We" vs. "They"

If you are a part of a group or business and you are referring to the members of that group or business, demonstrate that you're part of the team by using "we" rather than "they." I've heard employees say "they have to achieve these goals," when referring to their own company.  Using "they" makes it sound like you're not a team player and that you don't believe you can contribute to the success.  If it doesn't come naturally to think of yourself as "we" and part of the group, then practice saying (and believing) it.

3.    Get rid of the weak, minimizing words

Words like "sorta," "just," or "kinda" minimize the impact of your message.  And stringing a few of them together, as in, "I'm just gonna discuss" or "it's just kinda like" makes it worse.  Instead, use definitive, strong, precise phrases like, "I will discuss" or "it is."

4.    Cut out the fillers

Words like "um," "ah," and "you know" become verbal crutches and overusing them can make you sound like you're unsure of what to say next.  Instead of using filler words, pause and take a breath – and then move on to your next words. 

5.    Beware the throwaways

"Throwaways" are the words or phrases that come out of your mouth when your brain has already moved onto the next sentence.  Examples include phrases like "and that kind of stuff" and "and all the rest of it."  Either list out specifically what you mean, or have a deliberate end to the sentence rather than using a throwaway and trailing off…

6.    Do you really mean that?

Think about the words you're saying – their meaning and how can they be interpreted.  I once heard a healthcare company manager say to senior leadership at his company, "as people become more health conscious, it could be detrimental to us." Several executives cringed.  I don't think he really meant to indicate that business and life would be better if people were less health conscious and thus, became sicker, but that's how it sounded.  He could have rephrased the sentence so it didn't sound like the company was eager for people to get sick. What if he had said that to the shareholders or to the public?

To become conscious of the words that you're saying, practice, record yourself and get feedback from someone.  You can learn to avoid the sloppy language that interferes with your ability to communicate your message and prevents your audience from understanding what you want to say.

by Gilda Bonanno LLC

Yes, I want a free subscription to Gilda's Email Newsletter

And send my FREE Special Reports "Seven Steps to Confident Public Speaking" AND "Six Mistakes to Avoid in Public Speaking"

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Public Speaking Takes More Than You Think

Public speaking is a skill that can be improved with practice over time... and sometimes, it takes more than you think:

1. Speak louder than you think you need to

2. Speak slower than you think you have to

3. Edit your content more than you think is required

4. Organize your material more clearly than you think you should

5. Use more relevant, engaging stories than you think you need to

6. Make the font on your slides larger than you think is necessary

7. Practice more than you think is needed

8. Spend more time preparing than you think you have to

9. Be more confident than you think you are

10. Present better than you think you are capable of

by Gilda Bonanno LLC

7 STEPS TO CONFIDENT PUBLIC SPEAKING

Enter Email:

Dear Mom, I Love You

In honor of Mother’s Day today, here is my annual reprint of the blog post I wrote about all the wonderful things I learned from my Mom:

Snacking is good.  Mom loves to snack and had a simple rule for my brother and I when we were growing up: as long as you brush your teeth, it's ok to eat potato chips, ice cream and chocolate.  When we played outside, Mom would call us in to give us ice cream.  And during our marathon Scrabble sessions, there was always a snack break or two.  No snacks were forbidden and no food was "evil," so we developed a healthy relationship with food.  And all that teeth-brushing must have worked because I have never had a cavity in my life! 

Talking to strangers is ok.  Mom talks to anyone, especially in the grocery store.  All it takes to start a conversation is an observation about the size of the iceberg lettuce or shared commiseration about the long checkout line—and then the conversation is off and running.  Today it would be called "networking."

Dollars are stretchable.  Growing up, we did not have a lot of money.  Mom managed to keep a family of four afloat on very, very little money.  She did this by working hard and spending only on necessities.  And even when we didn't have a lot, she enjoyed volunteering at church to make food baskets for people who had less than we did.  She made sacrifices for us; in fact, I don't recall her ever buying anything for herself.  We often joke that we should send her to Washington, D.C. to help the government balance the budget.  

Coupon clipping is an art.  Mom checks the sale papers and clips coupons religiously.  Then she calls and tells me how much money she saved in the store.  I expect to get a phone call from the police one of these days, informing me that they've arrested her because she saved so much on one item that the store had to pay HER for it.

Projects can be fun.  Organizing the file cabinet? Unpacking boxes?  Cleaning out the basement? Call Mom.  She loves doing work around the house especially if she gets to use the paper shredder or go to the dump (or "transfer station," as it's called in my town).  During her last visit, she helped me organize my office closet, which had been so crammed with stuff that I hated opening it.  It took hours.  And when I inevitably got tired of doing it, looked at all the junk that we had piled on the floor and the desk and said "I don't want to play this game anymore," Mom said "it's ok, we're almost done" and kept me going.  Now everything is in its place and properly labeled and I love opening the closet.  And some of the neighbors want to rent her out to help with their projects.

Humor helps.  Mom always has a positive attitude and loves a good laugh.   She loves the Pink Panther movie and recently laughed hysterically at the dance scene in Johnny English, a spoof on spy movies starring Rowan Atkinson (from the "Mr. Bean" series).  We played the scene over and over, just to make her laugh more.  She will be delighted to know they are releasing a sequel.  She also has the unfortunate habit of laughing whenever I am up on a chair, taking a box down from the closet – I don't know why.  She is supposed to be holding the chair for me and instead, she starts giggling just as I'm trying to lift a heavy box and then of course, I start laughing… luckily, no one has gotten hurt…

Simple things can make you happy.  Mom doesn't need a "spa day" or a meal at a fancy restaurant to be happy.  She is what we fondly call "low maintenance."  She enjoys the little things – like watching an old movie starring Robert Taylor or Joseph Cotton (extra points if it's set during World War II), going grocery-shopping at the Shop-Rite store near my house, eating ice cream outside on a warm day and of course, eating a Hershey's chocolate bar. 

Complaining is not helpful.  Not complaining is easy when life is easy, but Mom never complained even when life got hard.  When family members were sick or even when my father died, Mom didn't complain or ask, "why me?" She just kept going forward, with a strong spirit, a smile and a desire to help other people.  I'm still learning that lesson.

A few weeks ago, I received a big envelope from Mom in the mail.  Inside were packages of one of my favorite candies – the dots of colored sugar stuck to long strips of paper.  (Yes, you get some of the paper stuck in your teeth when you eat them, but that's half the fun.) She knows that I couldn't find them locally, so she looked for them on one of her grocery trips and sent them to me. 

I'll be seeing Mom today for Mother's Day.  What am I bringing her? Flowers? A gift certificate for a massage? Nope.  I'm bringing her all my love – and chocolate brownies.  Thanks, Mom, and I love you. 

9 Tips for How to Present While Seated

"You can't start a fire sitting down" is an old cliché that I used in graduate school to explain to the supervising professor why I taught my American history class standing up.  The professor preferred that I sit down and teach, to demonstrate more of a peer relationship with the students.  At 5' 2" and only a few years older than the students, I thought I looked enough like a "peer" and wanted more authority - teaching while standing up helped. 

I still believe that standing up while teaching and presenting is a good idea.  Standing conveys confidence and authority, makes it easier to monitor the room and gauge audience reaction, helps you keep up your energy and allows you to use the full range of non-verbal communications, including gestures, posture and movement. 

However, sometimes it's not practical to stand up while presenting due to factors such as room constraints, organizational culture and the short duration of the presentation.  So if you must give a presentation while seated, here are 9 tips to help you present successfully:

1.    Make Eye Contact

It's important to make eye contact with everyone at the table.  Depending on the seating configuration, it may be difficult and you may have to turn your body to make eye contact with those people seated on either side of you.

2.    Speak Loudly Enough

You have to speak loudly enough so that people can understand you.  And in addition to speaking over ambient noise, you also have to be mindful of making sure people on the opposite end of the table can hear you clearly, especially when you're facing away from them to the other end.

3.    Use Gestures

Yes, it is still important to use gestures when you are seated.  Keep your hands empty and use them for above-the-table gestures.  Try not to pick up and play with your pen, notes and water bottle.

4.    Sit Confidently

Sit up straight, with shoulders back and maintain good posture as you present.  Demonstrate your confidence by taking up your space at the table instead of slouching or shrinking.

5.    Control Your Nerves

If you are nervous or anxious about presenting, don't let your nerves show through your hands grasping the table or playing with a pencil.  Even if you're tapping your foot or shaking your leg under the table, the audience can see the nervousness show in the rest of your body.   

6.    Prepare for Distractions

A seated presentation may be considered less formal so people may think it's okay to check email or their phones while you're speaking.  Ideally, whoever is conducting the meeting will have set up ground rules with the participants at the start, banning electronic devices of any kind during the presentations.  However, if that didn't occur and the company culture unwisely allows email/phones during meetings, then be prepared for the behavior and don't let it shake your confidence.

7.    Do You Really Need Slides?

Before you use slides, consider whether you really need them.  Sometimes I think people use PowerPoint during their seated presentations only so they don't have to make eye contact with their colleagues! Perhaps handouts would be more effective – or perhaps your presentation doesn't need any visual aids at all.

8.    Manage Questions

If you get a question, repeat it so everyone can hear it and you have a chance to think of an answer.  Direct your answer to the questioner and to the whole audience, so you keep everyone's attention.

9.    Practice

Sitting at your desk and looking at your notes is not the same as sitting at a conference table and saying the words of your presentation out loud.  So practice your presentation in as close to the real environment as possible.

If you follow these 9 tips, your presentation will be effective, no matter where you're seated. 

Gilda Bonanno's blog www.gildabonanno.blogspot.com  

The Power of Visual Leadership - ATD 5/15

May 15th, 2017

Come Learn, Be Engaged, Be Entertained!

The Power of Visual Leadership

With Guest Speaker:Todd Cherches, 

CEO and Co-Founder of BigBlueGumball
BigBlueGumball is a NYC-based professional development firm dedicated to helping organizations and their people turn ideas into actions…and actions into results.  How do they do it? By leveraging their patented learning methodology whose mission can best be described by these three key words: Educate, Engage, and Excite!^TM   And at the foundation of what  they do is something they call VisuaLeadership.^®

VisuaLeadership^® is the art and science of applying visual thinking and visual communication tools, tips, and techniques to manage and lead yourself – and your people – to new heights.  So, if a picture is worth a thousand words, then leveraging the power of visuals will enable and empower you to become a more innovative and effective thinker, communicator, and leader.

In this fun, fast-paced and interactive dinner workshop, you will explore the following to enhance your effectiveness:

·         Visual imagery

·         Metaphor/Analogy

·         Visual storytelling

Todd is engaging, entertaining, and enlightening!  

SEATS ARE LIMITED!  REGISTER EARLY!

About Todd Cherches:

Todd is the CEO & Co-Founder of BigBlueGumball, a New York City-based firm offering management and leadership consulting, training, and executive coaching.  In addition to running his business, Todd is an adjunct professor at the New York University School of Professional Studies teaching the popular HR graduate course entitled, "Leadership & Teambuilding” and was recently awarded a prestigious 2016 NYU "Teaching Excellence Award." He is also a frequent guest lecturer at Columbia University and a popular blogger on the topic of “leadership + learning.”

EVENT DETAILS:

Date:  Monday, May 15th, 2017

Time: 5:45 PM Networking/Registration; 

6:15 PM Dinner and Program

Early Bird Registrations through Friday, May 12th, midnight:  $37 Chapter Members; $50 Guests;       $25 Members In-Transition; $20 Students

Regular Registrations and Walk-ins:  Member $45; Members In-Transition $35; Non-member $60

Reservation Deadline: Friday, May 12th, 2017

No refunds can be granted within 48 hours of event.

Meeting Location: Norwalk Inn and Conference Center, 99 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT

To register, visit http://www.astdscc.org/event-2533295

How to Present to Your Peers

Sometimes you have to present to a group of your peers.  And you may be speaking about something they know quite a bit about themselves. How do you come across as being knowledgeable and confident without sounding condescending and cocky?

You need to believe that you are qualified to give the presentation.  Start by understanding why you have been asked to give the presentation. 

What is it about your knowledge or experience that makes you the perfect person to deliver this presentation? Perhaps you led the project or know the client better.  (Yes, sometimes you are giving it just because nobody else wanted to do it.  But even in that case, you have earned the right to be presenting.)

Being clear about the reason ahead of time can help you focus and be more confident when you present in front of your peers, rather than being stuck in your head worrying, “Who am I to present? These people know more just as much – or more – than I do about this topic.” 

Once you cover this ground with yourself, you can focus on your material. Think about it from the audience’s point of view – what questions or concerns might they have? 

Then practice your presentation and focus on how you might be perceived by the audience.  Practice in front of a mirror or on camera.  In particular, be aware of your facial expressions and your tone.  Do you sound condescending, like you are lecturing at the audience?

Sometimes you intend to sound one way and you come across differently, so ask for feedback from a trusted colleague or coach.  There can be a subtle difference between a smile and smirk or between sounding confident and sounding cocky and it’s helpful to get feedback about it.

Preparing and practicing your presentation will help you be comfortable and confident when you're presenting to your peers. 

7 STEPS TO CONFIDENT PUBLIC SPEAKING

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