Public Speaking for Consultants

1. Public Speaking for Consultants Matthew SternPresidentBest Software Toastmasters

2. What will be covered • Fundamental public speaking skills • Resources for further development

3. Fundamental public speaking skills • Overcoming nervousness • Knowing your audience • Organizing your talk • Using visual aids correctly • Developing a good stage presence

4. Overcoming nervousness • Know it’s natural – It’s a sign that you want to do well • Practice • Know that the audience is on your side • Bring moral support, like a friend or coworker • Picking out audience members and speaking to them one on one

5. Knowing your audience • Do your homework • Address your audience’s interests • Watch the audience’s reaction during your presentation

6. Organizing a speech • Opening: Introduce the theme of the talk and the points you are covering • Body: Present your points and provide supporting subpoints • Closing: Recap your points and end with the main thing you want the audience to remember

7. Using visual aids correctly • Do you need them at all? • Choose the appropriate visual aid • Design for readability • Always have backup equipment and software • Practice with the equipment • Check for typos and misspellings

8. Developing a good stage presence • Eye contact • Appearance • Body language • Vocal clarity, projection, and variety • Pauses • Ahs, ums, and filler words

9. Recap • It’s OK to be nervous • Know your audience • Organize your talk so that it is easy for you to deliver and the audience to follow • Use visual aids when they support your talk • Polish your delivery, but focus on giving quality content

10. Resources for further development • Toastmasters International: For a meeting near you: www.toastmasters.org • Nightingale Conant: For audio and video programs on public speaking: www.nightingaleconant.com • My Web page: For tips on public speaking, speeches, books, and links:www.matthewarnoldstern.com

11. Questions?