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Storytelling tips

Jay O'Callahan writes:

When my own children were young they would ask me at dinner to "tell when you were bad, Daddy." Recalling small things that happened to me as a boy allowed them to have fun but also to see that I, too, was small and worried and hurt and naughty. Suddenly, I was no longer just "Daddy" but a friend sharing a world they knew.

When my son was a third grader, he used to come home each day telling ordinary stories about his teacher. "Mr. McCurdy is making Portuguese bread again tonight. It's an egg bread and sticky. He had to answer the phone last night just when both hands were covered with a sticky mess. . ." Or, "Mr. McCurdy doesn't like New York City. His wife has to hold on to him on the sidewalk there 'cause he gets terribly dizzy."

We are all human - and stories remind us of our humanity, our sense of fun and wonder and struggle. The stories you begin to collect can be personal, folk, adventure, mystery. It depends on you, your students, your interests and theirs. But tell them, tell them, tell them.

in an article 16 Storytelling Tips for the Tellerwhich is not only hugely valuable for storytellers, for speakers using stories, but also for improving public speaking itself.

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Once More With Feeling

At the lectern the physician-scientist spoke with passion and enthusiasm, lowering his voice and then raising it, changing its pace and rhythm, using metaphors and analogies, describing vividly a particular treatment and why it should be approved. Into his presentation he wove the story of a particular patient, one for whom several treatments had failed, not only lowering the quality of her life but increasingly endangering that life.

Not for a second did the physician-scientist ignore the data. The evidence with which he supported his message was compelling. He spoke with authority, creating the kind of credibility that engages listeners' trust.

Yet in his presentation he elevated pathos, an appeal to emotion. He did so by telling a story, by choosing words for their emotional value, by using figurative language, and by varying his delivery - all techniques that can help a speaker evoke and use audience emotion to persuade.

CHOICES
Our physician-scientist could have chosen one of the other two means of persuasion to guide his talk.

... => bit.ly/9WTcLp

Friends with Cognitive Benefits

Having a friendly chat with a colleague before a big presentation or test may be a good strategy. A recent study found that pleasant social interactions help people perform better on cognitive tasks.

http://bit.ly/b6cpHy

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Public Speaking – Facts Tell But Stories Sell

The truly successful speaker understands the power of story. Most speeches or presentations overflow with facts, figures and information. We're bombarded with data.

But before your audience can believe in your facts, they need to believe in you. Telling stories is a good way of helping your audience get to know you - which is the first step towards believing you.

Stories don't have to be long. Just make sure the anecdote or story is simple, clear and relevant. (And won't alienate any group within your audience). Stories:

• are a good way of engaging the audience;
• let the audience know you can be trusted;
• give structure to information and make data memorable;
• help keep the audience constantly engaged;
• are a wonderful teaching tool;
• touch us in a way facts don't.

Parkinson's Disease is a fact. Actor Michael J. Fox's struggle with Parkinson's Disease is a story that drives medical research, agitates for political change, and has people reaching into wallets and purses to finance the search for a cure.

Try to tell a story at least every 5 minutes in your speech or presentation.

Even accountants have stories

I worked with one group who said: "We are accountants. We don't have stories." Believe me, even accountants have stories. Anyone who achieves a personal or professional goal, but has to overcome difficulties to do it, has a story. Because at the heart of story is a character confronting difficulties to achieve something worthwhile.

Put a human face on your data. Convert your facts and figures into a story people will remember and your audience will hang on to every word you say.

Facts tell - but stories sell.

Neil Everton is a media skills trainer and presentation skills coach with Podium Media & Communications Coaching

The 10 psychological stages of public speaking

Michael Hyatt writes that he has spoken publicly about a dozen times in the last three weeks. Because this is more than usual, he has begun to notice a pattern in his psychological state as he goes through the speaking cycle.

He goes on to list 10 stages that seem to apply to each speaking situation. I have to agree that it is heartening to know that the less comfortable stages are "normal" for you and that they have their part to play in a successful presentation.

And I think I have quite a few stages in common with him, but not all.

What about You?

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How to Create an Extraordinarily Effective Speech-Marketing Tool

... Your Own Self-Selling Book or Booklet
with Gordon Burgett

To regularly earn many thousands of dollars from speeches or seminars, invest a few hundred dollars now — once — and create a surefire selling tool that you can send to every booker in your universe. Build a book or booklet from something you uniquely know — solve a gnarly problem, retool a case study, explain a process that works — so the booker sees your brilliance, wit, and special insight and can hire you for a related presentation you want to give!
Best yet, you needn’t pay a penny to publish your gem in either bound or digital format, and it can be yours in minutes or days. It can also be an income source forever!
Gordon will explain the step-by-step process in this teleseminar and accompanying workbook. He will also include two digital examples (of a dozen such tools he has successfully used in the past 25 years) that you can download to get started.
You will learn:
• how to strategize your speech-marketing campaign, and what singular tool will distinguish you from others seeking that booking
• the contact letter, flyer, and “kit” components you will have digitally accessible to accompany your new speech-marketing book or booklet
• what the new tool must do to positively persuade the programmer that you are the person to pick, and to whom it should be sent for maximum effectiveness
• where you can send the tool to get it published free and fast, looking the way you want, both bound and digitally downloadable!
• how you can later (or simultaneously) re-publish that core book or booklet in-house as often as you wish without rights problems or ISBN issues

=> http://bit.ly/cvgqwx

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Use Speaking to Get More Clients

Speaking and making presentations that form memorable experiences, entertain and convey a high impact message can be a very profitable way to grow your business. In fact, public speaking is very comfortable for most lawyers. Like opera singers, many of us love to hear the sound of our voice. Whether it’s summing up to a jury or arguing a case before the Supreme Court, many lawyers are born speakers. Not only will speaking demonstrate your knowledge and expertise, but it will also allow you to develop an emotional bond with your audience. Speaking offers prestige, credibility, visibility, and can be a lot of fun.

Listen to Steve Markman tell you how to do it...Download steve_markman.mp3

3 Presentation mistakes you have to avoid

Posted this on the Pivotal Public speaking blog ...

Love this, Tim ...

I’m sorry but I’m starting to get frustrated. And I’m due for a rant anyway.
If you are making these mistakes in your presentations then you’d better stop. Or I’m going to walk out. Quietly so you won’t see me.
Or I’ll just slowly stop listening.
Until all I hear is a soft buzzing of the audio equipment in the back. And the sound of a few chairs squeaking due to other uneasy victims being sucked into the vortex.
I do a lot of presentations and I’m not here to say that I am a big-time speaker. With the best slides and the A-list type content.
Someday Perhaps.
But I am watching you. To see what I can learn from you.
And lately I have been watching a lot of presentations. Great for me actually. To compare the good, the bad and the ugly. And to push myself to get better.
So I’ve picked three mistakes that I’ve seen over the past weeks. Some at a few big events (hint, I am writing from Las Vegas. Attending the Blog World Expo). As they happen, these mistakes feel like a slowly building stomach sickness. But more than that? I feel really frustrated. That quality speakers would make these mistakes:

http://bit.ly/aSc1Sn

Organizing a Speech – The Five Steps Required

So you have to give a speech! It could be for a friend's wedding, for an eulogy, or a presentation at work. No matter what the reason if you are not used to public speaking your first thought might be "how can I get out of it." But don't panic as I can help you overcome your fears with organizing a speech.
A good speech that you are complemented on is great for your self-esteem. Good preparation and practice at least twenty times is the key to success and helps deal with nervousness.
I have been public speaking since 2006 and can help you get organized. Here is what I do when organizing a speech. => http://bit.ly/aZbSc2

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3 Presentation mistakes you have to avoid

Love this, Tim ...

I’m sorry but I’m starting to get frustrated. And I’m due for a rant anyway.

If you are making these mistakes in your presentations then you’d better stop. Or I’m going to walk out. Quietly so you won’t see me.

Or I’ll just slowly stop listening.

Until all I hear is a soft buzzing of the audio equipment in the back. And the sound of a few chairs squeaking due to other uneasy victims being sucked into the vortex.

I do a lot of presentations and I’m not here to say that I am a big-time speaker. With the best slides and the A-list type content.

Someday Perhaps.

But I am watching you. To see what I can learn from you.

And lately I have been watching a lot of presentations. Great for me actually. To compare the good, the bad and the ugly. And to push myself to get better.

So I’ve picked three mistakes that I’ve seen over the past weeks. Some at a few big events (hint, I am writing from Las Vegas. Attending the Blog World Expo). As they happen, these mistakes feel like a slowly building stomach sickness. But more than that? I feel really frustrated. That quality speakers would make these mistakes:

http://bit.ly/aSc1Sn