This is part three of our Fearless Presentations Master Class.

In this episode, we continue our master class about presentation skills. In this master class, we are going to help you reduce nervousness, increase your enthusiasm and energy, help you become a great storyteller, become more persuasive, and help you design speeches in half the time. So don't miss an episode. This week, I cover how to organize a good speech. Specifically, I give you a couple of tried and true presentation openings and a couple of fool-proof conclusions as well.

Download the free Fearless Presentations Master Class Participant Guide by clicking here. 
https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/audio-guide/

The Secret to Great Presentations -- Enthusiasm and Energy!

This is part two of our Fearless Presentations Master Class.

In this episode, we continue our master class about presentation skills. In this master class, we are going to help you reduce nervousness, increase your enthusiasm and energy, help you become a great storyteller, become more persuasive, and help you design speeches in half the time. So don't miss an episode. This week, I cover the absolute best secret to being a fantastic presenter... it is the skill that once you master it, you will elevate your presentation skills exponentially. It is enthusiasm and energy. An enthusiastic speaker is a popular speaker.

Download the free Fearless Presentations Master Class Participant Guide by clicking here. 
https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/audio-guide/

On this episode, I'm starting a master class about presentation skills. In this master class, we are going to help you reduce nervousness, increase your enthusiasm and energy, help you become a great storyteller, become more persuasive, and help you design speeches in half the time. This week, I cover nervousness and give you a step-by-step guide to help apply the skills from the masterclass as we go. Don't miss an episode!

By the way, I have created a free downloadable guide for you. Just go to fearlesspresentations.com/audio-guide to access it. Each week, as we cover new sessions of the masterclass, I will also add more to the guide. So make sure to go back to that link each week to access the new tips.

If you haven't yet subscribed to the podcast, make sure to do that. Also, rate the podcast and leave a review for me.

For show notes, visit https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/10-simple-ways-to-get-over-the-fear-of-public-speaking/

You can learn a lot about history from the public speeches that shaped this great nation. Whether it is Dr. King encouraging the civil rights movement or President Kennedy inspiring the nation to reach to the moon, public speaking is an important part of the American experience. We will go in-depth from the fiery speech that started the revolution to President Reagan standing at the Berlin Wall taunting the Soviet Union. These speeches span from the birth of a new nation, through a civil war, a great depression, and into an era of a “new birth of freedom.”

In this episode, I cover the Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech by Patrick Henry (March 23, 1775).

In March of 1775, the citizens of the 13 Colonies were divided. They were British citizens and many were patriotic to the Crown. However, in the five years prior to this famous speech by Patrick Henry, the colonies were in turmoil.

The British military spent vast amounts of gold defending the Colonies from other nations, pirates, and Indians. Since the French and Indian war ended in 1763, the British army had set up forts to protect the colonies from incursions from the frontier. King George decided that the Colonists should be responsible for funding these military campaigns. So, he instituted a series of ever-increasing taxes on the Colonists.

Angry townspeople debated in pubs throughout the 13 Colonies. However, the biggest thorn in the side of King George was Massachusetts. The Boston Massacre (1770) and the BostonTea Party (1773.) were a couple of the more famous incidents. A few months before Henry’s famous speech, the First Continental Congress sent a letter of grievances to the King. They were still awaiting a reply.

Then, a few weeks before the speech, the British military marched on Concord to confiscate a cache of weapons from suspected rebels. For the first time, the British military had marched on British citizens in the Colonies. The Second Continental Congress was meeting in Philadelphia. The delegates were debating whether or not to join the revolution.

Meanwhile, in Richmond, Virginia, local delegates also debated about which side Virginia would back. Would they support the war effort in Massachusetts or would they support the Crown?

Patrick Henry Delivers “Give Me Liberty or Give Death” Speech to Virginia Convention.

Delegates at the Virginia Convention debated both the pros and the cons of the revolution. Some favored British rule. Others favored independence. That is until local attorney Patrick Henry stood to deliver one of the great American speeches of all time. In the assembly were future presidents George Washington and John Adams.

The first written documentation of the full speech took place 41 years later by William Wirt. Wirt created the text based on memories of men who were in the assembly. So it is had to say how accurate the text that we have today actually is. What is a fact though is that after this famous speech, the Virginia delegation because staunch supporters of the American Revolution.

Along with the “shot heard ’round the world” just a few weeks prior, the famous line from this speech became known as the start of the revolution.

For full show notes, visit 

https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/the-greatest-speeches-in-american-history-from-revolution-to-leaders-of-the-free-world/

Short anecdotes for speeches are a fantastic way to end a presentation with a bang. These stories can be fiction, actual incidents from history, or even just funny stories from your own personal life. When you deliver them well, though, they have a lasting impact. I often use these short anecdotes for speeches when I’m trying to teach something meaningful to the audience. So, in most instances, speakers use these anecdotes in training sessions or motivational speeches.

When You Use an Anecdote in a Speech, Tie the Story to the Greater Meaning of Your Presentation.

The anecdotes themselves add entertainment and humor to a speech. But when you use the story to relay a greater message, they almost have a magic quality. When you tell an anecdote in a speech, spend time at the end tying the incident back to the main point of your presentation.

When my daughter graduated from High School, a local pastor delivered her commencement address. He used a well-known anecdote in a masterful way as the start of the commencement speech. Since he was a pastor, he told the story of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus. Being a professional speaker myself, I wondered exactly how he would tie that story to a graduation ceremony.

He went on to explain how many Christians might see a “Baptism” as the ending point. However, Jesus started his public ministry at his baptism. The pastor then shared with the graduating class that many of them are likely seeing the ceremony as the end of their schooling. In reality, though, commencement means the beginning. The speaker used the anecdote really well and inspired the graduating class with the short story.

So, I thought that it might be fun to just jot down a few of the most inspirational (or just funny) short anecdotes for speeches that I have come across in my career. Perhaps you can use them in your next presentation.

For full show notes and text of each of the parables and anecdotes, visit Short Anecdotes and Parables for Speeches and Presentations

https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/short-anecdotes-for-speeches-and-parables-to-amaze-your-audience/

Want to eliminate the fear of public speaking? Two decades ago, we created the Fearless Presentations ® class to help people eliminate public speaking fear.

After training over 20,000 class members, our instructors have discovered a few simple truths about stage fright and speech anxiety. Once you understand these secrets, you too really reduce this fear.

Below are a few facts about public speaking fear that can help.

What Is Public Speaking Fear?

Stage fright is still one of the most prevalent anxieties in the world. In fact, psychologists created a specific term for this particular social phobia. They call it glossophobia — which is a form of social anxiety disorder.

Basically, this performance anxiety occurs when a person has to stand in front of a group and deliver a presentation. Since the symptoms of this fear are so common, presenters often have questions about why it’s there, where it came from, and how do you get rid of it?

Most people feel like they are the only ones out there who experience butterflies in the stomach, a shaky voice, or shaky hands. However, just about every speaker has some sort of nervousness when presenting in front of groups. The person may have had a bad experience at a previous speaking engagement. Now, when he or she stands to speak n front of any number of people, the person may feel a lot of nervous energy. If the speech is in front of a large audience, he or she may experience a full-blown panic attack.

As a result, a lot of people who feel that stage fright will avoid public speaking situations altogether. These people can miss out on big opportunities. If public speakers don’t do something about the anxiety, it can escalate and turn into a debilitating phobia. With all that being said, though, here is some really good news. As far as anxiety disorders go, this one is really easy to conquer.


For more information visit our website Overcome Public Speaking
https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/fear-of-public-speaking/

Want to eliminate the fear of public speaking? Two decades ago, we created the Fearless Presentations ® class to help people eliminate public speaking fear.

After training over 20,000 class members, our instructors have discovered a few simple truths about stage fright and speech anxiety. Once you understand these secrets, you too really reduce this fear.

Below are a few facts about public speaking fear that can help.

What Is Public Speaking Fear?

Stage fright is still one of the most prevalent anxieties in the world. In fact, psychologists created a specific term for this particular social phobia. They call it glossophobia — which is a form of social anxiety disorder.

Basically, this performance anxiety occurs when a person has to stand in front of a group and deliver a presentation. Since the symptoms of this fear are so common, presenters often have questions about why it’s there, where it came from, and how do you get rid of it?

Most people feel like they are the only ones out there who experience butterflies in the stomach, a shaky voice, or shaky hands. However, just about every speaker has some sort of nervousness when presenting in front of groups. The person may have had a bad experience at a previous speaking engagement. Now, when he or she stands to speak n front of any number of people, the person may feel a lot of nervous energy. If the speech is in front of a large audience, he or she may experience a full-blown panic attack.

As a result, a lot of people who feel that stage fright will avoid public speaking situations altogether. These people can miss out on big opportunities. If public speakers don’t do something about the anxiety, it can escalate and turn into a debilitating phobia. With all that being said, though, here is some really good news. As far as anxiety disorders go, this one is really easy to conquer.


For full show notes go to: Overcoming Public Speaking Fear

https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/fear-of-public-speaking/

When people ask me how many slides should I use in my presentation, I typically reply very cautiously. Most people make a huge mistake when designing a speech or presentation. They start by designing their slideshow. Then, later, they figure out what they want to say. This technique is backward.

Instead, you want to figure out what you want to say first. Then, after you have designed a great presentation, go back and figure out what visual aids you will need to better make your key points. The main rule of thumb is to provide only the number of slides that you absolutely need and absolutely no more than that.

So in this session, I’m going to cover a few examples for the right number of slides needed in short presentations, the long presentation, the best way to give corporate presentations.

For full show notes, visit How Many PowerPoint Slides Should You Use in a Presentation?

https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/how-many-powerpoint-slides-should-you-use-in-a-presentation/

The absolute best way to reduce the fear of public speaking is to just improve your presentation skills. Think about it. Anytime you get really good at doing something, your confidence in that area will soar. When we teach the Fearless Presentations course, we spend the first couple of hours helping the audience members get comfortable. Then, the remaining three-fourths of the class focuses on improving public speaking skills.

Over the last 20 years, we have seen thousands of different ways to practice public speaking. So, in this episode, I thought I would summarize the absolute best tips to improve your presentation skills. Focus on these things, and you will gain confidence in a very short time.

7 Simple Ways to Improve Presentation Skills

There are thousands of ways to reduce stage fright and get better at public speaking. The seven simple tips below, though, will give you the most bang for your buck.

1. Narrow Down Your Presentation Topic to a Single Result that Interests Your Audience.
2. Organize Your Presentation into Just a Few Main Points.
3. Gain the Audience’s Attention by Focusing on What They Want.
4. Improve Presentation Skills by Improving Your Visual Aids. (Do This and You Will Not Have to Memorize Anything.
5. Make Stories and Examples the Backbone of Your Next Presentation.
6. Use Some Subtle Audience Participation to Make Your Speech More Enjoyable (for You and Them.)
7. Practice Your Presentation with a Partner or Family Member.

We will cover each in a little more detail. However, before we do, let’s cover a few things about public speaking fear. If you are new to speaking in front of an audience, you may feel a little anxious. That is normal. Just before you stand to speak, take a couple of deep breaths. This will calm your heart rate down and relieve some of the symptoms. The faster you get into a story, the less nervous you will be. (More on this later.)

For full show notes, visit https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/7-best-tips-to-improve-presentation-skills-and-practice-public-speaking/

This week, I've got a guest interview with Elsewine Rietveld who is an expert on reducing nervousness when creating video recordings. Just so you folks know, I had been a professional speaker for over 20 years before I started this podcast. Even with that kind of experience, the first few recordings were nerve-racking. I wished I had known Elsewine back then.

By the way, she just released her book on Amazon the same day that this episode is being released, so today. If you want to purchase her book, here is a link to it https://amzn.to/2QIR7PJ

If you haven't yet subscribed to the podcast, make sure to do that. Also, if you want to leave be a review, I would appreciate that as well. Also, the Fearless Presentations YouTube channel is churning out presentation tip videos a few times each week. Make sure to subscribe there as well. (https://www.youtube.com/c/FearlessPresentationsOnline/)

Enjoy the interview!