Professional Secrets From A Public Speaking …Benefits of Public Speaking 3 The Barriers to...

The Art of Fearless Speaking

MIKE MOORE

Mike Moore

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THE ART OF FEARLESS SPEAKING

Introduction 2Benefits of Public Speaking 3

The Barriers to Fearless Speaking 4More On Overcoming Fear 5

Refuse to Live Engulfed by Fear 6The “What If” Zone 8

Public Speaking and the Law of Expectations 9Attitude is Everything 10The “So What Factor” 11

Confidence through Expertise 12The Importance of Being Yourself 14

Thoughts on Shyness 15Overcoming Speaking Anxiety 16

Practice Impromptu Speaking at Home 17Hidden Benefit of Fearless Speaking 18

10 Ways to Foster a Relaxed State of Mind 20Banish Fear with Smile Power 21

How to Be A Confident, Comfortable and Enthusiastic Speaker 2215 Ways to Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking 23

How to Use Radio Interviews to Overcome Speaking Fear 25Ten Terrific Self-Motivating Tips 27

The Art of Confident Small Talk 29The Art of Good Conversation 30

Great Conversation Phrases 31Conversation Starters 32

How to Become an Entertaining Speaker 3335 Humourous One Liners for Public Speakers 35

Conclusion 38

The Art of Fearless Public Speaking

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INTROducTION

In my travels across Canada and the USA speaking at conferences and giving keynote addresses and seminars I have learned a lot about people and their intense fear of speaking in public.

It never fails that after a presentation someone comes up and asks me how I can stand up there in front of hundreds of people and look as if I am having the time of my life. They usually add, “If I had to do what you do I would die a million deaths.”

I believe that we all have an obligation to make the world a better place and we do that by openly challenging injustice and by sharing our thoughts, ideas and opinions openly with others.

BUT in order to do this we must open our mouths and say something and most of us are just too fearful to do it.

“You are put on this earth to shine brightly but most of us live our lives on dimmer switch.”

In this report I will help you go from being on dimmer switch to Shining Brilliantly so let’s begin.

Note: If you have the desire, follow my instructions and practice you will be shining in a matter of days. It all depends on the effort you make.

Mike Moore

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BENEFITS OF PuBLIc SPEAKING

Q Public speaking builds confidence. When you experience the thrill of holding an audi-ence in the palm of your hand and receive their appreciative applause your confidence soars.

W Public speaking boosts your self esteem. When you see the audience relate to you as someone who really knows what you are talking about your self esteem increases. And we all can use an increase in self esteem.

E People start looking at you in a more positive way. Even if you never use your public speaking skills in giving formal presentations, people will notice that you are more articulate and confident in expressing an opinion or sharing an insight. You will discover that they begin looking to you for advice and opinions on many issues.

R It helps you become a more organized thinker. Planning, writing and delivering a well researched, well organized presentation has an overflow effect in other areas of your life. You begin to plan and organize your thoughts more effectively. This is especially helpful in yourcareer or business. When your manager or supervisor asks your opinion on some work- related issue you are better able to express your ideas in a clear, concise and well organized manner.

T Public speaking begins to alter your self perception. As you begin to use the skills involved in public speaking you will notice that you begin to start talking to yourself in a more positive way. You begin to see yourself as capable and confident.

Y By accepting the challenge to speak in public you begin to explore and actualize your own potential. Many of us go through life not realizing how much we are capable of achieving. Public speaking is an effective tool in the process of self discovery.

U Public speaking gives you the courage to break out of your comfort zone. I believe that the comfort zone is the enemy of human growth. When we are too comfortable where we are we tend to become stagnant. Speaking in public pushes us out of the comfort zone and re-veals to us our enormous capabilities.


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If you feel compelled to share your expertise or message with others do so. Start slowly and start small but start. The benefits and rewards are tremendous.

THE BARRIERS TO FEARLESS SPEAKING

I believe that fear is the most destructive of human emotions and is at the heart of our reluc-tance to stand up and speak in public. Human beings are born with only two fears- the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises. All other fears are learned and we have learned well for we have accumulated one huge bundle of fears.

We fear getting old, losing our health and hair, getting cancer, flying etc. And at the top of our list of accumulated fears is the FEAR OF SPEAKING IN PUBLIC. I would never have guessed it in a million years but it’s true.

Fear prevents us from achieving our enormous untapped potential, in fact, I believe that the only limits to human potential are the ones we impose on ourselves.

The three fears that prevent us from becoming a confident, relaxed, enthusiastic speaker are :

1. The fear of rejection 2. The fear of looking foolish 3. The fear of failure.

It is important to understand that we all have these fears to a lesser or greater extent. The differ-ence between a person paralysed by the thought of speaking in public and one who isn’t is in how each controls their fear rather than letting fear control them.

In order to overcome our fear of speaking in public we must commit ourselves to overcoming fear itself.

This is what I am going to do in this book. I want to show you how you can destroy the fear that prevents you from speaking with comfort and confidence.

“Force yourself to do what you fear and the death of fear is assured.”

Mike Moore

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MORE ON OvERcOMING FEAR

Today, more than ever, we need to learn how to handle fear whether it is in the form of a fear of speaking in public or any other fear that we possess. We are definitely a frightened people and our fear seems to be increasing every day. If we don’t learn how to confront and control fear, we risk losing our emotional and physical health and ultimately the joy of living. When this hap-pens the achievement of our potential is impaired. Fear paralyses.


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REFuSE TO LIvE ENGuLFEd By FEARIn my talks and seminars throughout North America I tell people that, while they have no control over what happens to them in life, they have total control over their response to these events. This is where we begin to wage our battle with fear.

Here are a few suggestions I have found helpful in my fight with fear. Reflect on them, select those you find appropriate and prepare your own battle plan. YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE. Don’t let fear of failure, rejection, speaking in public, or perceived threat prevent you from going for the gusto. You have only one life to live so live it to the fullest.

Say this many times throughout your day. “95 percent of what I fear will never happen and the five percent that does happen will never be as bad as I envision.”

Picture yourself living fully and happily in the midst of turmoil and confusion. We do tend to live out of our vision. Also picture yourself standing in front of an audi-ence speaking fearlessly and with confidence.

Take all reasonable precautions and then get on with the business of living well and fearlessly.

Say to yourself, “I REFUSE TO BE RULED BY FEAR.”

Make humour and laughter a huge part of your daily life no matter what circum-stances you are in. Laughter is good therapy and a very pleasant diversion.

Search inspirational books for guidance, encouragement and hope.

Think thoughts of peace, not thoughts of affliction. Anon

Lose yourself in action or you will wither in despair. Do something to manage and control your fear.

Remember, we might be forced to live with the shadow of fear, but no one can force us to live in its shadow.

Never stop believing in the power of your potential.

Mike Moore

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Remember...“You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to your-

self,

“I’ve lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.” You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”

Eleanor Roosevelt

Live in peace, Live in joy, Live in love, Live in hope, Live in confidence,And you can conquer any fear or adversity.

Mike Moore


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THE “WHAT IF” ZONE

People who fear standing up and speaking in public find themselves dwelling in what I like to call the What If Zone. Whenever we are asked to speak, whether it involves a simple introduction or thank you at a banquet or meeting or giving a report at work or addressing a committee, we enter the What If Zone.

You know you’re in the What If Zone when you find yourself asking these questions of yourself: What if I look and sound stupid? What if I say something foolish? What if they don’t like me? What if I forget my content? What if I trip on the carpet? On it goes. (More on this later)

Mike Moore

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PuBLIc SPEAKING ANd THE LAW OF ExPEcTATIONS

The Law of Expectations states that we move toward and eventually realize what we expect from life. If you expect to be a more effective speaker, if you work hard to achieve this goal and if you never give up, you will achieve your expectations.

When you combine the law of expectations with visualization you compound your possibilities. If you expect to be successful in achieving your objective and you visualize yourself as success-ful the likelihood of you achieving success is certain. Remember, we tend to become what we expect to become.

When applied to public speaking it looks like this. When you are about to give a speech expect it to be a sparkling, enthusiastic success. Visualize yourself as an interesting, witty, well informed master of the art who totally enjoys the subject and the audience. Hold this expectation and vi-sion in your mind firmly. Don’t let go of it for anything. Repeat over and over, “I tend to become what I expect to become and achieve w hat I expect to achieve.”

If you commit yourself to this process you will begin to see improvement in both your delivery and in your relationship with your audience. You will be on the way to becoming the speaker you want to become. What’s more, people will want to listen to what you have to say and your cha-risma quotient will increase significantly.


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ATTITudE IS EvERyTHING

If we are the products of our attitudes then it is important for us to examine our attitudes, both positive and negative, to discover the impact they are having on our lives. This is even more im-portant if we are determined to maximize the potential that is ours, a potential which, in the vast majority of us, remains grossly underdeveloped.

Positive attitudes release a power to achieve that will astound you, while negative attitudes severely hamper our becoming the people we are capable of becoming. It become the central task of anyone interested in actualizing their enormous speaking potential to become involved in the process of attitudinal transformation.

Once you have identified the negative attitude you wish to transform (In your case it would be the attitude you have about not being able to speak in front of people) commit yourself to the process of becoming conscious of that attitude cropping up every time you are in a speaking situ-ation. You will be surprised at how quickly you will become aware of your target attitude.

When you are focussed on the attitude, visualize it leaving your body and flying off into the great beyond. Now replace it with a positive attitude and give yourself the suggestion that from now on this will be your dominant thought pattern. I will speak with confidence and without fear.

Whenever the old negative attitude creeps back into your mind engage this process of thought replacement. Soon the new attitude will become dominant and you will find yourself enjoying its positive power in your life.

Be gentle with yourself when you fall back into the old pattern of thinking. Believe that the change you desire will come more frequently and it will. It might help to remember that human beings use between 2 and ten percent of their mind’s potential so you have a huge reservoir of unused potential to help you over any periods of discouragement.

Don’t forget to continue to use humour to keep your spirits up and put the entire process in per-spective. HUMOUR MAKES GOOD THINGS HAPPEN.

All human behaviour is attitude in action.

Mike Moore

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THE “SO WHAT FAcTOR”

The best way to escape the What If Zone is by employing the So What Factor. Whenever you find yourself using What If... ask yourself So What? So what if I look foolish? Will I be the only person in human history to look foolish? NO WAY. So what if they don’t like me. Will the world come to an end? So what if I trip on the carpet? It might provide everyone present with a much needed laugh... including myself.

I was speaking at a huge medical conference in Toronto a few years ago when, during my dy-namic presentation on “Humour and Health” I tripped on the carpet and fell forward. When I regained my balance and the audience saw that I wasn’t hurt they began to laugh. Who was laughing harder than anyone? Me.

A great deal of our fear vanishes when we lighten up and stop taking ourselves and the situa-tions we often find ourselves in too seriously. I can’t recall the author of these words but their wisdom is excellent. “Life is too serious to be taken seriously.”


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cONFIdENcE THROuGH ExPERTISE

Nothing boosts your confidence more than knowing what you’re doing or what you’re talking about. If I were a doctor and faced with having to do an emergency appendectomy I would be in a state of near panic if I had no training in doing one or if I had the training but had never done one before. But if I had training and experience my confidence level goes up and fear vanishes.

The most important thing a speaker can do to enhance confidence and banish fear to become an authority in their specific subject area.

To do this you must read extensively in your field. I believe that speakers are leaders and leaders are readers. If you don’t read then listen to audios or lectures. You have to learn all you can and more about your subject.

When you read extensively you give yourself a distinct advantage over those who don’t. And there are huge numbers of people who don’t read at all.

Reading in your field builds confidence and when you are confident with your subject and know more than the people to whom you are speaking your fear is diminished if not banished..

When you stand in front of an audience to deliver a speech you don’t want to second guess your-self when it come to your knowledge of your content.

The audience will presumes that you know what you are talking about and have something meaningful and beneficial to give them. On your part you must presume that you are an authority on the topic and that you have expertise and knowledge far beyond that of your audience.

The only way you can be confident in this presumption is by reading and studying your subject thoroughly.

When asked to give a presentation I suggest that you set aside at least one half hour of study per day for a few days prior to the talk. This will increases your self confidence and really helps you

Mike Moore

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when someone from the audience asks you a question that you have to answer extemporane-ously.

Your comfort with answering questions will impress and leave people believing that the pre-sumption they had about you being an expert was correct. Your fear of speaking will lessen as you get a sense that the audience is perceiving you as someone who knows what they are talking about.

You know this is happening when you have their rapt attention. Every speaker knows when they have the audience in the palm of their hand.

TIP A Rose by Any Other Name...

Some people are intimidated by the terms public speaking/public speaker or giving a speech. If you are one of them why not call what you have to do by another term such as Sharing information, communicator whatever works for you. Once you gain confidence you won’t really care what it is called. Nothing will intimidate you.


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THE IMPORTANcE OF BEING yOuRSELF

Human potential is often stifled by a lack of self confidence. When we stand in front of an audi-ence we can easily become a victim of our own negative self talk. This can have a disastrous impact on your ability to deliver a sizzling presentation. Here are a few examples of negative self talk to avoid at all costs.

Why would anyone want to listen to me?

Who am I to presume to have something worthwhile to share with these people? Most of them know more than I do on the topic anyway.

If they only knew how insecure I am at this moment they would all get up and leave.

What if I try to be funny and no one laughs?

Will I look foolish if I try to have fun up there in front of them? This kind of nega-tive self talk is the product of two of our most basic fears - the fear of failure and the fear of rejection.

You must replace this kind of negative self talk with positive because we tend to be the products of our thought patterns. If you want to be a positive, dynamic speaker you must start thinking positive dynamic empowering thoughts.

Say this over and over to yourself until you start believing it, “I am an articulate, knowledge-able, fun loving person with an important message people are hungry for.”

Mike Moore

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THOuGHTS ON SHyNESS

People often say that their fear of speaking in public is made worse by the fact that they are so shy. For about 40% of the population even the thought of being in public is fearful . The thought of speaking in public can fill them with additional panic.

I want to say here that what I am about to say about overcoming shyness does not apply to shy-ness that is so debilitating that it requires professional help. I am speaking about moderate shy-ness that can be overcome with attitudinal and behavioural changes.

HOW TO BEGIN TO OvERcOME yOuR SHyNESS

The one thing that is absolutely vital to overcoming shyness is DESIRE. You must want to, badly.

POSITIvE SELF TALK

We must begin to talk to ourselves about ourselves in a more positive way. Instead of defining ourselves negatively we must define ourselves positively.

Tell yourself that...

I am equal in dignity to anyone else.

I have a lot to offer other people.

People are not my enemies.

I am intelligent and nice to be with.

I can do anything I put my mind to.

I am lovable and capable just the way I am right now.

Many times through the day stop and say something like, “Every day, in every way, I am becom-


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ing more comfortable speaking with people.”

REMEMBER... that every person is a unique gift. There is no other person like you on the planet. There has never been another like you. There will never be another like you. So treat yourself like the rare, unique, precious gift that you are.

OvERcOME SPEAKING ANxIETy

THE GREAT LEvELLER

When I speak on confident, fearless speaking I always tell my audiences to picture every person sitting in front of them on the john when they begin to feel intimidated before a speech.

Remember... The Queen of England goes to the john. The president of the USA goes to the john. So does the Prime Minister of Canada and every other country in the world. Your boss goes. Your Supervisor goes. WE ALL GO TO THE JOHN. There is something equalizing about picturing your boss on the john. Isn’t there?

When you come right down to it we are all equal. No one has the right to feel that they are some-how superior to anyone else. When you are about to give a presentation to your peers and your supervisors keep this thought in mind and you will feel unintimidated. No one can make you feel inferior unless you let them. Don’t let them.

Mike Moore

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PRAcTIcE IMPROMPTu SPEAKING AT HOME

Take an article from a newspaper or magazine that you find interesting or annoying. Read the article thoroughly. Put the paper down and talk about how you feel; whether you agree or dis-agree with its content; how you would correct the problem or address the issue. While you are speaking pretend that you are standing before an audience. Use gestures, inflection, emotion etc. during your talk. You might want to record yourself and listen to yourself when finished. Take a couple of speaking problems or flaws you noticed listening to the tape and correct them. Just identifying the flaws alone will focus your attention on them in future talks and will help you overcome them. One flaw could be hemming and hawing during speech.

THE JOy FAcTOR IN GIvING A PRESENTATION

People are attracted to a joyful person. Joy has been defined as the outward expression of an inner excitement. When giving a presentation make it a joyful experience and watch good things happen between you and the audience. Let your inner excitement become an outer reality and your audience will respond generously with their attention and appreciation.

Many people in your audience will be rather tight in the presence of those they don’t know. Many have lost their sense of joy and spontaneity. Their lives have become rather dull and te-dious rather than energetic and fun.When giving a presentation get enthused and excited about what you are doing. It will be a refreshing experience for your audience, one they will enjoy and eagerly listen to. Take the risk and it will pay off for you in a big way. Enthusiasm has a magnetic quality to it. Take advantage of it.


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HIddEN BENEFIT OF FEARLESS SPEAKING

I believe that public speaking can be rewarding in many ways. First of all it can provide you with an opportunity to earn a fantastic full time or part time income working from home. Groups, or-ganizations and businesses are always looking for informative, entertaining speakers to address their members at banquets, annual meetings, conferences etc. As you become well known as a speaker the invitations increase. Word of mouth is still the best form of advertising.

As your reputation spreads you will find people from outside your local area approaching you to present to their group. Since I began my speaking career I have spoken to numerous groups throughout Canada and the United States. Not only are the financial rewards terrific, but I get to travel, all expenses paid, meet new people and see new country. What a great life and what great rewards for doing what I love to do.

Another appealing feature of a speaking career is that you control your own schedule. You ac-cept only those engagements that fit nicely into your other family duties and obligations. If you want a month off, you just don’t accept bookings during that time. When you add this to no traffic jams to face twice a day and no boss to contend with it starts to hit you just how appealing this career is.

Mike Moore

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Not only do you determine how many speeches you would like to give per month but you also can negotiate how much you will charge per speech. When just starting out in the speaking business you will receive in the neighborhood of $200.00 per presentation. Within a year youcould be receiving between $500 and $1000 per talk. Not bad part time money for doing some-thing you love.

I like to have a fee range to accommodate the various budgets of different groups and to provide room for negotiation. I am in the business of opening doors of opportunity not closing them because my fee is rigid. This is entirely up to you. I know speakers who will not negotiate their fees. That is their choice.

If you just want to speak locally you can. If you want to spread your vocal wings across the region and the continent the possibilities are endless. Marketing yourself and your service will bring opportunities galore. If you have a computer and are online you can advertise on your own web site. This brings inquiries from all over the planet and spreads the word about your speak-ing topics and availability to millions of potential clients.

For more on getting into the business of profitable speaking visithttp://www.speakforprofit.com


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10 WAyS TO FOSTER A RELAxEd STATE OF MINd

Before you begin your presentation try a few of these tips to relax your mind and body and help banish stress and fear.

Q Take three deep breaths slowly. It really works to relax the body and mind.

W Relax the tongue. Usually the tongue is held tightly against the teeth. Free it up in the mouth so it can just rest there without tension.

E Take one minute vacations. In your mind visit places where you find peace and stillness. Pic-ture yourself there soaking up the beauty and solitude.

R Relax your facial muscles. When we are tense we frown and squint which adds to the tension. Tell your facial muscles to relax and they will. Try to maintain this relaxed face throughout the day.

T Move slowly. When you find yourself rushing for no reason, SLOW DOWN. Don’t rush to the stage walk slowly and with confidence smiling as you go.

Y Laugh more. Laughter cuts stress and promotes relaxation.

U Listen to beautiful music. Mozart calms the restless spirit.

I Watch and enjoy the sunset.

O Visualize yourself as a balloon being inflated. As you breathe in, the balloon fills with your stress and tension. Then breathe out all the stress and tension leaving yourself limp and relaxed.

P Enjoy the rhythm and beauty of nature for its lessons are patience and peace.

RELAX FOR EASY POWER AND RENEWED CONFIDENCE .

Mike Moore

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BANISH FEAR WITH SMILE POWER...

There is power in a smile. The simple act of moving the corners of the mouth upward has the ability to touch the hard hearted and lighten heavy burdens. Smiling is both evocative and af-firming. A smile evokes a response from the one smiled at and affirms their place in the universe. A smile usually prompts a smile in return. There are exceptions, of course. Some people are so suspicious and wounded emotionally that not even God smiling at them could evoke a positive response. You must be prepared for the, “What the heck are you smiling about?” look, because you are going to get it. But usually smiles beget smiles.

Before I give a speech I make a point of scanning the room for friendly faces and friendly faces are smiling faces. In every audience there are many who smile easily, many who smile reluc-tantly and some who haven’t smiled in one thousand years. I focus my attention on the smiling faces because they relax, energize and affirm me. My confidence increases and fear vanishes just looking at smiling faces. Such is the power of a smile.

There is power, beauty and encouragement in a smile and when you are about to give a speech some people need all the encouragement they can find.


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HOW TO BE A cONFIdENT, cOMFORTABLE ANd ENTHuSIASTIc SPEAKER

The AcT As IF... PrIncIPle

There is a principle in human development called the “act as if ” principle. It states that if you act as if you are confident you will eventually become confident. We tend to become what we act out. It really does work. When I was starting out in motivational speaking I used to say to myself “Act as if you have been doing this for years.” It was difficult at first, but as time passed and I kept on acting “as if ” I eventually found myself becoming more comfortable in front of an audience and actually looking forward to any opportunity to speak.

I recall hearing the late actor Henry Fonda say in an interview that he was intensely shy. The interviewer asked him how he could be that shy and come across as just the opposite on screen. Fonda’s reply was that he acted the part he was given.

That’s exactly what you do when standing in front of an audience to give a talk. You act the part and soon you will become the way you act.

Mike Moore

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15 WAyS TO OvERcOME yOuR FEAR OF PuBLIc SPEAKING

Q Look upon your audience as a group of friends who really do want you to do well and succeed.

W Prepare thoroughly and know your material.

E Keep the basic message foremost in your mind

R Practice your speech so you could give it in your sleep.

T In your mind see yourself speaking confidently and articulately.

Y Don’t say things like this in front of your audience, “I hate speaking in public.” “I don’t do this often and it shows.”

U Introduce yourself to a few audience members before the talk and then focus on their faces while delivering your presentation.

I Speak in public as frequently as possible. The more you do it the better you get and the more comfortable you become.

O Relax before your speech. Take three deep breaths and take a two minute mind vacation to a place of peace and relaxation. Mine happens to be Lake Superior at sunset.

P If you make a mistake laugh at it and keep speaking. When you do this the audience is on your side and will feel more connected to your humanity.

{ Dress in comfortable clothes that make you feel good.

} Approach your presentation well rested and ready to go.

q Move around while you speak. Don’t become podium bound. When you move in front of your audience it makes them relax and establishes a more intimate connection between you the


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speaker and the audience.

w Employ positive self talk before you begin. Say to yourself, “I am a relaxed and energetic speaker with a great message I want this audience to hear. I can hardly wait to get going.”

e Select a few humourous one liners to work into your speech. They are easy to use and laugh-ter promotes comfort and relaxation. Remember that laughter bonds a speaker to the audience and the audience to the speaker

Note: NEVER look at the audience and visualize them as cabbage heads.I don’t know where this came from but I don’t like it. I want you to see the mem-bers of your audience as people who have come to hear you speak. What a compli-

ment. Appreciate it and don’t turn them into cabbage heads.

Mike Moore

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HOW TO uSE RAdIO INTERvIEWS TO OvERcOME SPEAKING FEAR

While I use radio interviews as a means of promoting myself as an expert speaker on my top-ics you too can use them to practice the art of speaking. If you have a topic of interest to a lot of people radio interviews allow you to put all your speaking skills to work without anyone ever seeing your face. The only thing they hear is your voice.

They can be done from home over the phone while sitting having coffee in your pajamas. They also give you great exposure for no cost to you, if that is what you want.

When I want to be interviewed on radio I send out one page press releases to radio stations in specific cities or towns announcing the fact that I speak on __________ and have an interesting hook or angle they might be interested in. I explain briefly the angle and invite them to call me for an informative and interesting interview.

I tell how to write an effective one page press release and give samples in my manual “Public Speaking for Profit and Pleasure”

I prefer to either fax or snail mail the press release to the media outlets. Emailing them isn’t that effective. Many producers are inundated with emailed releases and usually delete them as soon as they come upon them.

I usually get a phone call from a producer or their assistant if they are interested and they usu-ally are if I have written the press release in an enticing manner. In the past 6 months I have had about 15 interviews ranging from 15 minutes in length to 35 minutes.

Before the on-air experience a producer will want to talk to you to see if you will make a good guest or not. If they want to proceed they’ll set up a time for the actual on air interview. If they aren’t interested they will usually say that they’ll get back to you and you will never hear from them again. Be enthusiastic, informative and brief with your answers. Don’t hog the conversa-tion. Give the interviewer a chance to get a word in and don’t over promote yourself.


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Prepare about five talking points for use in the interview. Write them down so you can stay on track. I find that 5 points are more than enough to direct the flow of the interview.

I purchased a phone mic. from Radio Shack to record all my interviews. The one I have has a suc-tion cup on one end that I stick to the phone receiver and plug the other end into my recorder. When I receive the call from the radio station I press “record” and I am off and running. After the interview I listen to it and critique my performance. This is an effective way to correct any speaking flaws you pick up while listening.

Give radio interviews a try. It’s a great way to practice the art of fearless speaking by staying at home and speaking to thousands on the phone. Just don’t ever think that you are actually speak-ing to thousands of people. Just focus on the host of the show.

For more info on Public Speaking visit www.speakforprofit.com

Mike Moore

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TEN TERRIFIc SELF- MOTIvATING TIPSNo one can motivate anyone to do anything. All a person can do for another is provide them with incentives to motivate themselves. Here are ten very effective strategies to help you get up and get moving toward actualizing your enormous, untapped potential as a fearless, confident speaker.

Be willing to leave your comfort zone. The greatest barrier to achieving your potential is your comfort zone. Great things happen when you make friends with your discomfort zone. Force yourself to do what is uncomfortable and soon it becomes comfortable.

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Wisdom helps us avoid making mistakes and comes from making a million of them.

Don’t indulge in self-limiting thinking. Think empowering, expansive thoughts. Remember that we become what we think about.

Choose to be happy. Happy people are easily motivated. Happiness is your birth-right so don’t settle for anything else. When you are happy and you deliver a speech that happiness is reflected in your words and in your speaking style.

Spend at least one hour a day in self-development. Read good books or listen to inspiring audios. Driving to and from work provides an excellent opportunity to listen to self-improvement audios.

Train yourself to finish what you start. So many of us become scattered as we try to accomplish a task. Finish one task before you begin another. If your task is to become a fearless speaker then dedicate yourself to that task and never give up on it.

Live fully in the present moment. When you live in the past or the future you aren’t able to make things happen in the present.


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Commit yourself to joy. C.S. Lewis once said, “Joy is the serious business of heaven.”

Never quit when you experience a setback or frustration. Success could be just around the corner.

Dare to dream big dreams. If there is anything to the law of expectation then we are moving in the direction of our dreams, goals and expectations.

You have the power to amaze yourself if you would only use it.

The real tragedy in life is not in how much we suffer, but rather in how much we miss, so don’t miss a thing.

Charles Dubois once said, “We must be prepared, at any moment, to sacrifice who we are for who we are capable of becoming.”

Mike Moore

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THE ART OF cONFIdENT SMALL TALK

When I first started speaking for a living I had great difficulty with one-on-one conversation with members of my audience. I could speak before 2500 people and enjoy every minute of it, but when I was expected to mix and mingle my tongue became all thumbs. I decided to get to work improving my conversation skills and researched the topic thoroughly. My efforts paid off for now I can speak with anyone, anywhere for any length of time.

Most people do not find speaking in front of 2500 at all comfortable or appealing at first so I suggest that you begin your fearless speaking program speaking to small groups. Just remember that all speaking is public speaking unless, of course, you like talking to yourself alone in a small room. With this thought in mind begin practising the art of fearless speaking with conversation. Conversation is public speaking on a small scale.


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THE ART OF GOOd cONvERSATION

Assume the responsibility for starting and maintaining the conversation.

I usually begin with a friendly “Hi, I’m Mike Moore and I’m from Canada.” Usually the response is “Hello, Mike I am ____________ and I’m from ___________. (Away you go.)

Use the person’s name throughout the conversation. It shows that you’re interested in and focussed on the other.

Let the other be the centre of attention.

Show a genuine interest in the one you’re speaking with. Maintain eye contact.

Ask questions that require more than a one word answer.

When you ask a question listen attentively to the answer and be quick to ask another question arising from the response to the first. You learn what to say by listening care-fully to what was said.

Put the other at ease by smiling and nodding frequently throughout the conversation. This will help you develop comfort in social situations and comfort is vital to a public speaker.

Talk in terms of the other person’s interests.

Don’t feel the need to disagree until you get to know the person better.

When the one you are talking to asks you a question answer it confidently paying at-tention to your tone, inflection, enthusiasm, articulation etc. Don’t pay so much atten-tion that you become stiff and starchy but be aware of how you are speaking and the response you are receiving. Is the person you are speaking to relaxed and obviously enjoying the conversation?

Mike Moore

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GREAT cONvERSATION PHRASES

“That’s interesting.Tell me more.”

“How did you feel when that happened to you?”

“How would you like to see it turn out?”

“Give me an example of what you mean.”


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cONvERSATION STARTERS

^ Give a compliment.

^ Ask for advice.

^ Seek help with something.

^ Give praise.

^ Seek an opinion.

Remember that conversation is a two way process so don’t let it become a monologue in the pres-ence of a witness. If the person with whom you are speaking hasn’t asked you a question within ten minutes it isn’t a conversation so move on.

Conversation will give you confidence and self assurance so look upon it as a great training ground for speaking to larger groups.

I keep six honest servantsThey taught me all I know.Their names are what and why and whenAnd how and where and who.

R. Kipling

Mike Moore

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HOW TO BEcOME AN ENTERTAINING SPEAKER

If you look up the word entertaining in the dictionary you will find that it means amusing, interest-ing and pleasing. So, to become a more entertaining speaker you must become more amusing, inter-esting and pleasing to the audience you are addressing.

Here are a few practical suggestions to help you improve your entertainment quotient as a speaker.

Q Focus on the needs and wants of your audience. Remember that a bore is ME deep in conversa-tion. To avoid being boring be audience centred not ME centred. Speak in terms of their desire to be recognized, to belong, to feel important and to enjoy pleasure and laughter. People need attention. There is nothing more affirming than the undivided attention and appreciation of another. If you want your audience to give you their undivided attention give them yours.

W Put a smile on your face the moment you enter the building and keep it there until you leave. I recall hearing a speaker who was very good when speaking but before he began and the moment he finished his smile was nowhere to be seen. Be conscious of the importance of your smile in meeting the needs and wants of your audience.

E Be enthusiastic about your life and your message. Enthusiasm is contagious and does get atten-tion. Ask yourself if you were a member of your audience would you be listening attentively to what you were saying?

R Tell stories. A study was done at an American university to observe the factors that impacted positively on student attention and their retention of course content. It was found that when the professor used humour and storytelling in a lecture retention of material and attention to what was being taught increased significantly. There is a good message here for us as speakers.

T Laugh at yourself during your presentation. There is nothing people enjoy more than hearing and seeing a speaker laughing at his/her weaknesses and human foibles. It gives the audience permis-sion to laugh at themselves when they see their own shortcomings and weaknesses reflected in yours. It promotes a “we’re all in this together” attitude.

If you don’t laugh at yourself you leave the job to someone else.


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Y Use your voice as an instrument. Show emotion, joy, intensity, amusement, frustration with your voice. Whatever you do, don’t be a monotonic speaker. They are deadly.

U Have fun with your audience. Near the end of every presentation on humour and fun in the workplace I provide a rhythm band experience for members of my audience. I usually select 8 willing people to participate in this musical experience. I give each member of the group a rhythm band instrument similar to the instruments we all remember from primary school. With the instrument comes a brief instruction on how to play it.

I don’t teach them too much as the fun comes from watching them become creative in playing their instrument. I play and sing a song on the guitar and my band goes wild. If you can’t play the guitar don’t worry about it. Just select a song from a CD and play it for the band to accom-pany. The song isn’t that important but the fun is. I have had CEOs from large companies in the band having a great time. After the concert I have had members of the audience say “I’ve never seen him/her like that before. They were actually having fun.” Such is the liberating power of play.

To see me playing with my audience visit http://www.motivationalplus.com/cgi/a/t.cgi?video

I Tell your audience stories. We all love to be told stories whether we are six or sixty years old. In my audio CD “How to Use Storytelling in Public Speaking” I talk about the importance of sto-rytelling and show you how to use them effectively in your presentations. Stories amuse, inform, and entertain your audience so use them frequently.

O Be yourself. Get rid of the masks you hide behind and let your audience see and enjoy the real you.

P Relax and enjoy the speaking experience. The audience is not your enemy. They want you to be good so their needs can be met and their time investment can be rewarded.

These are the basic elements involved in being a more entertaining speaker. Take one at a time and try to incorporate it into your presentations. You will be pleased with the results

For more on Public Speaking visit www.speakforprofit.com

Mike Moore

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35 HuMOuROuS ONE LINERS FOR PuBLIc SPEAKERS

I believe in the awesome power of humourous one liners to get and maintain audience attention and to promote retention of the material you cover in your presentations or seminars. Master-ing the art of the one liner is simple, much easier than mastering the art of telling humourous stories.

The latter requires a keen sense of pacing and timing to deliver a punch line which results in laughter from your audience. Some speakers just can’t get the timing right when telling longer stories, but usually have no problem at all with one liners.

If you know who said the one liner always give credit, but if you don’t, just use it and forget about authorship. Many one liners are credited to so many sources, that no one really knows from whom they originated. The origin and authorship of most are lost. Just use them.

Here are 35 of my favourite humourous one liners for you to use in your speeches. Practice delivering them with sharpness and confidence.

Q Expecting people to treat you nicely because you’re a good person is much like expecting a bull not to charge you because you’re a vegetarian.

W Start each day off with a smile... and get it over with. W.C. Fields

E My Mother told me I wouldn’t get far in life because of my procrastination, but I told her, “Just you Wait!”

R If you go to a doctor’s office and find all the plants dead, get yourself another doctor. Erma Bombeck

T If at first you don’t succeed, so much for sky diving.

Y My insides feel so much younger than my outsides look.


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U We must do more than gargle from the well of knowledge.

I I read recently in the newspaper that impotence is on the rise. Really? Mike Moore

O I’m not afraid of dying, I just don’t want to be there when it happens. Woody Allen

P They laughed at Joan of Arc, but she went right ahead and built it anyway. Gracie Allen

{ The only time the world beats a path to your door is when you’re on the toilet.

} It’s not hard to meet expenses, they’re everywhere.

q Some days you’re the dog and some days you’re the hydrant.

w If all is not lost where the hell is it?

e If God wanted us to bend over and touch our toes He would have put them on our knees.

r The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.

t It’s hard to make a comeback when you’ve never been anywhere.

Mike Moore

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y If a cat could speak it would probably say something like, “Hey I don’t see a problem here.”

u Isn’t it wonderful that wrinkles don’t hurt?

i Parenting teens is much like trying to nail Jell-O to a tree.

o You know you’re getting old when you stoop to tie your shoes and wonder what else you can do while you’re down there.

p Inside every old person is a young person wondering what the hell happened.

[ I know there is no life on Mars. It has never shown up on my daughter’s phone bill.

] The problem with being punctual is there’s no one around to appreciate it.

A Minister at grave side: “What we have here is a mere shell. The nut is gone.”

S Her husband is always willing to go that extra mile. He just won’t stop and ask directions.

D Why is it that when I throw a pity party no one ever shows up but me?


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F You know you’re getting old when friends compliment you on your new alligator shoes and you’re barefoot.

G When you come to the fork in the road, take it.

H Charisma is that special quality bald, boring, overweight billionaire’s have.

J Despite the high cost of living it is still quite popular.

K I started to take Flintstone vitamins. I didn’t really feel any better, but you should have seen me stop my car with my feet.

L There’s one advantage to being 102 years old. No peer pressure.

: Dogs have owners, cats have staff.

a Any day above ground is a good day.

lAUGhTer MAKes GreAT ThInGs hAPPen

Mike Moore

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cONcLuSION

I hope you find these tips and strategies helpful in your quest to become a fearless and confident speaker. I know they work if you have the desire and determination and if you believe in your power to amaze yourself.

If you have a question or concern do feel free to email me and I will get back to you with my in-sights on the issue.

mikemoore@ motivationalplus.com

www.motivationalplus.com

www.speakforprofit.com


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NOTES:

MIKE MOOREis a popular speaker, humorist and car toonist whose work has

appeared in newspapers and magazines throughout the United

States and Canada. He is a recognized authority on the

power of therapeutic humor in human wellness and relationships.

His many speaking engagements throughout Nor th America have

convinced him that humor and laughter form a universal

language that enter tains, heals and unites.

Mike’s presentations, whether one hour or one day, are designed

to inform, enter tain, aff irm and encourage audiences with a

blend of relevant content, stories, humor and music. He engages

his audience from the beginning and has them relaxed and

laughing within minutes.

The Art of Fearless Speaking

WWW.MOTIVATIONALPLUS.COM

Printed in Canada

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