If you are preparing to speak, you have to ask WHY. What do you hope to accomplish? What do you want your audience to do at the end of your talk? Is it your goal that they do a particular thing, change an attitude or behavior, make a decision, take a step, join a cause, etc.? At the outset, it is imperative to decide on the end goal of your talk because knowing...

There are literally thousands of illustrations available online, some for sale, others free. Occasionally, “canned” illustrations are useful. However, be careful not to use them too often. The reason is that they tend to get dated and overused. Here is an example of a canned illustration found on the Internet. Unfortunately, no author was cited. Subject:...

An important step in dealing with and overcoming your fear of public speaking is to demystify it. Right now, you may not even realize why public speaking causes such a paralyzing fear. Therefore, you need to figure out when and where your fear began and understand it objectively. In most cases, fear of public speaking is a combination of nurture and nature. Some...

Once you as a speaker figure out what you want to say, an additional step involves deciding how you want to say it—specifically, which instructional method you will use to present your material. (Some refer to this as “unpacking the subject.”) It is beneficial for aspiring speakers to listen to speeches, presentations, and talks of all kinds for...

“Sometimes questions are more important than answers.” – Nancy Willard If you read and put into practice the principles included here, you will definitely improve as a communicator. There are many questions a presenter can ask before speaking, but the following four are vital.   Question One: To whom am I speaking? The first question a presenter...

People often ask me, what is the most practical thing a presenter can do right before they step up on the podium to speak? My answer is always the same. Although it might sound simplistic to some, experience convinces me it is sound advice. I suggest just before you are ready to speak stand in front of a full-length mirror and check yourself out (head to...

New Non-Fiction (first published book) & Self-Help: General Congratulations Purpose-Centered Public Speaking! (formerly Purpose Driven Public Speaking) Purpose-Centered Public Speaking: How to Develop and Deliver Purposeful Talks, Speeches, and Presentations with Less Fear and More Confidence Dr. Gary...

Recently almost 6oo people registered for our book giveaway in association with goodreads.com. There were 10 winners who each were mailed a signed copy of Purpose-Centered Public Speaking. My congratulations to all ten winners. I hope you enjoy your prize. Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook share via Reddit Share with Stumblers Tweet abou