Fear to Fun: Why you freak when you speak in public, and how to calm your nerves and wow the crowd
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FEAR TO FUN Spark Speaker Series Teleconference Slides Dial in: 218-862-7200 • Conference Code: 678581 All slides and verbal content ©2009 Andrew Saks, Spark Presentations. All content may be shared with credit to Spark. Andy Saks • Spark Presentations • 781-454-7600 • [email protected] • www.sparkpresentations.com Why you freak when you speak in public, and how to calm your nerves and wow the crowd
description
These slides were designed for a teleseminar that shared the underlying biological reasons that human beings get anxious before and during a presentation, and offered quick, free, simple ways to lessen that anxiety. To hear the teleseminar audio, please visit http://www.sparkpresentations.com/Spark_Presentations/Teleseminars.html.
Transcript of Fear to Fun: Why you freak when you speak in public, and how to calm your nerves and wow the crowd
FEAR TO FUN
Spark Speaker Series Teleconference SlidesDial in: 218-862-7200 • Conference Code: 678581
All slides and verbal content ©2009 Andrew Saks, Spark Presentations. All content may be shared with credit to Spark. Andy Saks • Spark Presentations • 781-454-7600 • [email protected] • www.sparkpresentations.com
Why you freak when you speak in public, and how to calm your nerves and wow the crowd
What scares you about speaking?
1. 2. Heights3. 4. 5. Deep water6. 7. 8. Flying9. 10.
MOST COMMON FEARS(from The Book of Lists)
What’s possible when you conquer America’s #1 fear?
1. 2. 3.
WHY YOU FREAK
WHEN YOU SPEAK
1. High-Stakes Setup
2. Content Anxiety
3. Environment-o-phobia
4. Talking Blind
a. Grounding
b. Entrainment
5. Evolution
“Fight or Flight” Cycle
SIX WAYS TOCHANGE YOUR MIND
1. Remember ____ ____ ____.
(Hint: ___ ___)
2. _______ your fear.
3. _____ an ______.
4. Visualize ______.
5. Be your _____.
6. ________ it out.
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SCRIPT TIPS TEN WAYS TO MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION SPARKLE
Most presentations are stuffed with facts, figures and formal prose, confusing and alienating your audience. Shifting to a relaxed, clear, customer-centric style connects you to your crowd, so they’ll listen, learn, and remember. Here are ten tips to get you started:
1. KEEP IT SHORT: No one in the history of speaking ever complained that a speech wasn’t
long enough. Say your peace and exit stage left. Your audience will thank you for respecting their time.
2. KEEP IT SIMPLE: Speakers often try to squeeze in every single product benefit, just in case
#67 really sways ‘em. Resist the temptation. Stick to the 3-5 top benefits that make you stand out. You want them to have questions; it motivates them to talk to you afterward.
3. TALK LIKE YOU TALK: Don’t force your audience to decipher your complex or flowery
prose. Set them at ease with a friendly, conversational style. “You’re right on target” makes the point quicker and easier than “You are currently matching the pre-arranged sales goals for this quarterly sales period.” And avoid vague, overcooked marketing-speak; everyone in your industry “facilitates complete turn-key solution.”
4. SPEAK TO THEM, NOT “THEM”: Audience members care about themselves, not your
imaginary sample customers. Always aim your wording at the people in the room, i.e. “ABC software lowers YOUR CRM costs while keeping YOUR profits up” instead of “Those in the CRM industry will lower their costs…”
5. DEFINE YOUR TERMS: Don’t assume everyone in your audience knows the lingo; many
don’t, and are too embarrassed to ask. Enlighten them (“HDMI, which as you know stands for high-definition multimedia interface…”) and bask in their gratitude.
6. DRAW THE BOTTOM LINE: Customers only embrace a feature when they know how it
actually helps them. Link your feature (“It weighs 1/3rd
less…”) to their bottom-line benefit (“…which lowers your shipping costs by 23%.”), which almost always involves reducing time, effort and expense, and raising income, ease and enjoyment.
7. BE CONCRETE: Familiar, evocative imagery always beats vague, bland statements. “Move-
in day can be stressful” is accurate, but “Imagine your knees wobbling as you lug 78 heavy boxes on a scorching July day…” paints the picture and gets the sale.
8. COLOR IT IN: Feature lists are factual, but painfully dull. Use stories, statistics, analogies,
quotes, props, tap dancing, anything surprising and colorful to drive your point home. The more creatively you say it, the more your audience will remember it.
9. DON’T FEAR THE CHAIR PEOPLE: Spontaneous interaction with your audience turns your monologue into an engaging conversation and shows you care about them. Ask questions and welcome feedback. It lowers your speaking anxiety too!
10. BRING THE FUNNY: Humor keeps them relaxed and attentive. Find common pain points
and make fun of them. If comedy just ain’t your thing, bring free stuff.
Andy Saks Chief Sparkler 781-454-7600
www.sparkpresentations.com
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