Ignore Those Butterflies . . . This is Your Big Chance!
You know the feeling. Your boss asks you to make a presentation about your new project at the next management meeting. You don't want to let the boss down, but deep inside the request makes you feel queasy. Giving a sharp, strong presentation could be a big boost for your career. But what if you fall flat on your face? That could be a career stumble! As these fears begin to rattle around in your brain the butterflies and sweaty palms loom larger and larger.

Despite the anxieties, knowing how to give a dynamite presentation at work is one of the surest paths to promotion and career success. Dr. Richard Emanuel, chair of the Communications Department Forensics Committee at Alabama State University, says that ". . . communication skills are essential to personal, academic, and professional success. Good communication skills fuel self-confidence and enable a person to . . . effectively research, conceptualize, organize, and present ideas or arguments." So don't let your nerves get the better of you. That speaking opportunity could be your chance to get noticed!

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"... People's number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than doing the eulogy." -- Jerry Seinfeld

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The Hearts and Minds of Your Audience
What makes a dynamic speaker "click" with an audience? Why are some people masterful speakers while others seem to fumble and falter? The good news is this -- if you're not a "born speaker" you can easily develop the skills you need to look like a natural. One of the secrets to successful speaking is capturing your audience's imagination. When you understand what they want - their needs and problems, hopes and fears, dreams and desires - you have the power to deliver a presentation that engages, informs and inspires.

Dynamic speakers can know how to:

• Plan your introduction so it relates to the topic
• Divide the presentation into timed sections
• Research the topic and collect extra information to answer audience questions
• Remember the power of three’s
• Summarize your key points at the end
• Close the presentation with questions and answers.

But, in addition to these techniques there are a number of other speaking skills that can move audiences (and perhaps mountains). You'll need to be able to construct a clear, understandable presentation. You'll need to learn speaking techniques to maximize your impact. You'll have to be adept at managing any speaking anxiety that remains. You may even need to be able to create effective visual aides to help "sell" your presentation. But, armed with an understanding of your audience and a complement of speaking skills, you won't have to worry about letting your boss down or shooting your career in the foot.

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"Public speaking is the art of diluting a two-minute idea with a two-hour vocabulary."-- John Fitzgerald Kennedy

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Speaking Skills for Success
Fortunately, it isn't hard to learn the strategies and skills necessary to become a top public speaker. My new e-book How to Give the Best Presentation of Your Life contains all of the information you need to start maximizing your presentation skills, including:

• Discovering the 3 best ways to prepare for your presentation
• Establishing a commanding presence in 5 seconds
• Finding the best voice level and what singers can teach you about breathing
• Using words that create resonance and receptivity
• Responding to audience questions with maximum impact

In addition my e-book also includes valuable tools, like the "Presentation Planning Checklist" and sample evaluation/feedback forms. To learn more about how you can transform your speaking abilities, visit http://www.howtomakeapresentation.com. KEYGroup also offers several learning experiences that target specific skill sets that can make you a more effective communicator, such as Communicating Your Best, Influencing Skills and Think On Your Feet®. For information on these are other programs visit http://www.keygroupconsulting.com/veo_leadership.php or call Dr. Jan Ferri-Reed at 1-800-456-5790.