Fearless Presentations

What causes the fear of public speaking? Why do I get heart palpitations? I mean, I like to think of myself as being an expert in your field (at least within my own company.) And I know what I’m talking about. After all, I’ve worked in my field for years. I’ve done my research. So, why do I break out into a cold sweat when I have to speak in front of groups of people?

Well stick around and hear about exactly what causes these symptoms and the fastest and most efficient way to treat them!

Show Notes: What Causes the Fear of Public Speaking and How to Overcome this Fear
(https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/the-causes-of-the-fear-of-public-speaking-and-how-to-overcome-them/#past-negative-experiences)

Audience Participation is an excellent way to make a good presentation into a stellar presentation. It can also be the scariest. That is why most speakers — even seasoned professionals — avoid asking their audience questions. It is too risky. Or is it?

The truth is that the types of audience participation that most speakers use can come across as cheesy or forced. Also, our audiences have been trained to not interact with us. From the time we are in grade school, we are trained to sit still and listen to the speaker (teacher.) Here is the good news, though. Presenters who get really good at audience participation can boost audience engagement dramatically and make each presentation a positive experience for their audiences.

Show Notes: How to Encourage Audience Participation During Your Presentation
(https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/9-reliable-ways-to-add-audience-participation-to-your-presentation/)

You have identified a problem or opportunity for your company. Now you need to get approval. So, how do you present a proposal to management that will get approved? The process is actually pretty simple. The method of how to present a proposal to management that we use works about 100% of the time. Just follow the simple steps below, and your project will easily get funded.

By the way, if you are presenting a proposal to a customer or potential client, see this post. The technique below is mainly for elevator speech types of presentations (short and to the point.) If you are presenting a proposal to someone outside of your own company, you want to be more detailed.

Show Notes: How to Present a Proposal to Management
(https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/how-to-present-a-proposal-to-management/)

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when you present a proposal to a client. Here is the scenario… You have done your homework. A team at your company painstakingly created the perfect sales proposal. In fact, the potential client was so impressed, that they moved you to their “shortlist.” Now, though, they want you to present a bid proposal to the purchasing committee. 

Your team is one of just six to eight other companies competing for this contract. How do you make sure that the committee picks your team? Well, not to brag, but over the years, groups that I have coached have received over 80% of these contracts. Just follow this simple sales presentation outline, and your team will have a better shot at winning as well.

Show Notes: How to Present a Proposal-Create a Business Proposal Presentation
(https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/present-a-bid-proposal-great-sales-presentation-outline/)

How, exactly do we collect feedback on a presentation? Are there ways to solicit feedback that will help us grow as speakers? The answer is, absolutely, YES! However, the way that you typically ask for feedback may not be the best way to gain confidence as a speaker. In fact, many traditional feedback techniques can actually make you more nervous. In addition, speakers will sometimes make adjustments to their delivery based on anecdotal issues. This can start a snowball effect that leads to terrible presentation skills.

To make sure that doesn't happen to you, stick around for some of the best (and worst) ways to collect feedback from your presentations!

Show Notes: How to Collect Feedback on a Presentation
(https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/how-to-collect-feedback-on-a-presentation/)

Most of what we cover on this podcast are things that you need to do. The secrets to effective visual aids, curbs against anxiety, the right ways to present, but what about the wrong ways? 

You have to know what not to do in order to know what to do and, for a lot of us, we do a lot of what we shouldn't do. There are so many small habits you might not even realize you do that are actively hurting your speaking and snuffing those out as early as possible is extremely important. So lets go through those. 

These are the 10 deadly sins of public speaking and, if you hear something that you're already doing, I'll also tell you how to fix it. 

Show Notes: 10 Biggest Public Speaking Mistakes: What Not to do During a Presentation
(https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/10-biggest-public-speaking-mistakes-what-not-to-do-during-a-presentation/)

“I don’t present very often, so how do I prepare for a presentation?” That is, by far, one of the most common questions that we get as presentation skills coaches. In fact, most public speaking fear comes from situations where presenters just don’t speak very often. 

They have a hard time building up momentum. For instance, if you only drive a car once every couple of years, you will likely be nervous every time you slip behind the wheel. However, if you drive every day, the process becomes second nature.

So if you're not confident in your preparation routine or want to make sure you're doing it right, stick around for the 5 best ways to prepare for a speech.

Show Notes: 5 Ironclad Ways to Prepare for a Presentation
(https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/5-ironclad-ways-to-prepare-for-a-presentation-cut-prep-time-by-137/)

I often get a common question after people attend our 2-day presentation class. “Now that I feel more confident, where do I go to practice to continue to get better as a speaker?” “How can I continue to grow as a great speaker?” 

The best way to continue to grow is with continued and consistent use of your presentation skills. If you take a public speaking class and then don’t present again for a year, your new skills wither away.

Today I'll be telling you just how to avoid that! Here is everyway I know of for new presenters to practice their craft!

Show Notes: How to Find Great Public Speaking Venues to Practice Your Presentations
(https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/podcast-15-how-find-great-venues-practice-your-presentations/)

Now that you know a few of the best (and safe) ways to start your presentation right, let's get spicier. No memorable speech you've ever sat through took no risks. The bare minimum a speech can be to not be bad is inoffensive. All the introductions I gave you last week are enough to make sure you don't have an embarrassingly awful first impression but they're not enough to make an amazing first impression. That's what this week is for.

So if you're ready to learn how to make a statement from the first few seconds of your presentation, stick around and find out how!


Show Notes: 7 Dynamic Ways to Start a Presentation [With Examples]
(https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/how-to-start-a-presentation/)

The opening is really the most important part of your presentation. You want to make a good first impression. In addition, you also want the audience to see as a subject matter expert.

Of course, we’ve all been there as a speaker. First, we design a powerful presentation. Then, we nervously walk out onto a stage or into the front of the room. The audience stares with skepticism written all over their faces. This stoic crowd has no patience for speakers who waste their time. And their demeanor is showing that fact right now. In a timid voice, we start with a simple, “Good morning.” We get no response from the audience — no warm welcome at all. As a result, our nervousness increases dramatically.

The good news is that your speech doesn’t have to start this way. Your first words will create first impressions. Today I'll be going over just that. How to make that first impression a good one and ensure your presentation kicks off exactly how it should!

Show Notes: 7 Dynamic Ways to Start a Presentation [With Examples]
(https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/how-to-start-a-presentation/)