Talking it Up
s with any industry that deals with people, one of the most critical
elements in being an ISO is effective communication with the public.
According to The People's Almanac, the number one human fear in the U.S. is
speaking before a group. Forget heights, spiders and snakes, talking in
front of an audience can send even the most seasoned professional into cold
sweats.
However, speak well and you can leap over almost any hurdle. From the
simplest sales pitch to the mega-sensitive boardroom presentation, speeches
turn the cogs of commerce.
Consider the following tips to take you past your tongue-tied colleagues:
+ Know Whom You're Talking To. One of the biggest mistakes a speaker can
make is to be boring. Are you tuned into exactly what excites your
prospect? To close a deal, you've got to capture your audience's attention
from the get-go.
+ Capitalize on Common Bonds. Check the date you're going to speak and find
out what happened that day in history, a famous birthday, local community
event, etc. Weave that tidbit into your opening soliloquy, and you'll
create immediate familiarity between you and your listeners.
+ Use Humor and Anecdotes. Smiles and storytelling go a long way to
dispelling indifference and easing tension. Who says a sales pitch or
business presentation has to be stuffy and devoid of verbal delight?
+ Write it Down. Whether you're the president of the United States or the
president of the local PTA, you need to put your words on paper. Rewrites
are easier done beforehand on a pad than they are at the moment in person.
+ Do a Sound Check. Just as your manner of dress makes an important visual
impression, your voice makes that all-important audio impression. Before
you say a word in public, practice your pitch into a recorder and play it
back. Lose those cracks and squeaks, and you'll gain power and presence.
+ Watch Those Hands. Body language is as important as the spoken word.
Stand in front of a full-length mirror and "talk" to your audience.
Bobbing, swaying and flailing of arms will overshadow even the strongest
sales proposal. And by the same token, don't forget what stiffness did to
Al Gore.
+ Engage Your Audience. After you've delivered your message, open the floor
to a Q & A. Not only is it an opportunity to answer questions not covered
in your presentation, it puts you on the same level playing field as your
listeners.
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