How To Deliver A Top Notch Presentation

Online, March 7, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Delivering The Speech Of Your Life:

In 10th grade I joined the debate team. The 1976-77 National Forensic League debate topic, used by high schools everywhere, was:

"Resolved: That a comprehensive program of penal reform should be adopted throughout the United States."

Just reading it again makes me nauseous with remembered dread. You had to get up in front of a judge and present a response to the other team's proposal - which you'd just listened to for the first time - for eight solid minutes. You had five minutes to prepare, 480 painful seconds to respond.

I still remember the cream-colored three-piece suit my mom purchased for me at Filene's basement, and the feeling that I was going to throw up each time Freeman Frank - our debate coach - pulled up on a Saturday morning with the van he'd rented to haul us to the far corners of New England to make those eight-minute speeches.

I did this for three years. And over time, a transformation occurred.

The transformation was in focus and intention. At first, my focus was all on me: "I'm going to screw this up so bad." "I have nothing intelligent to say, and this guy will see through me in about three seconds." "I'm Italian. I'm dumb. I can't compete with these smart people."

But over time I decided I wanted to win. And to win I was going to have to convince the judge - to move him or her somehow. And then it became fun. Because it was no longer about me. It was about my audience: getting listeners from here to there - changing their mind - actually having them leave the room thinking differently than when they entered. And that's powerful.

It's been a blast ever since.

Here's some of what I've learned in my years of public speaking. If you have to knock it out of the park, follow these basic rules:

Visit the link below to learn my basic 'knock it out of the park' rules:

http://blogs.hbr.org/pallotta/2011/03/delivering-the-speech-of-your.html

Dealing With Public Speaking Nerves:

As you become accustomed to public speaking and presenting you will grow more comfortable and able to be more natural and let "the real you" come out. But if you are still quite nervous about the idea of presenting in front of others, don't worry, this is natural.

In fact, virtually every confident and engaging presenter you see today was at some point earlier in their careers much less sure of themselves in front of a live audience.

I have written a lot about Steve Jobs over the years. He's a business leader who does a great job of presenting in a natural, comfortable, conversational style. His presentations feature large-screen visuals that are in-sync with his narration in a harmonious way that engages his audience.

Last week Steve Jobs, who is on medical leave from Apple, gave another good presentation introducing the iPad2. Yet, Jobs was not always as comfortable speaking before an audience.

In the following video clip Jobs appears to be at least a little nervous, though I think he's more excited and anxious to get started than anything else. Still, this clip is a kind of confirmation that everyone can get better and become more relaxed and comfortable with time. But it is also a reminder that it is perfectly OK and absolutely natural for you to feel nervous in front of an audience.

Visit the link below to see the video, and to learn 5 tips for dealing with presentation nerves:

http://www.presentationzen.com/presentationzen/2011/03/as-you-become-accustomed-to-public-speaking-and-presenting-you-grow-more-comfortable-and-able-to-be-more-natural-and-let-the.html

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