It is very hard to capture your audience’s attention when speaking and so easy to loose it. Every speech you make is competing for attention with every random thought your audience is having. Everybody in your audience is continually trying to juggle their busy lives and very few are giving you their undivided attention. This is especially true when the next distraction is only “one click away” Read more
Communication is a skill we develop as we go through life. However it is a skill that can always be improved. I have found that by being an active Toastmaster I have improved my communication skills. Read more
The better your listening skills the better you will be at public speaking. It is no secret that the best speakers spend time listening to great speakers making great speeches. Read more
The best speeches I have ever heard have had one thing in common, the speaker shows us a different way of thinking about a common problem. They do this by taking us on an emotional journey where they paint a picture we can easily relate to. Read more
Public speaking is at the heart of how we impact the world around us. Many times in our life we will be called to speak in public. The occasion may be sad, joyous, work related or an opportunity to talk about a subject we care really care about. Read more
When we are asked to give a work presentation most people see it as a potential problem. However in most cases it is a chance to improve our career opportunities if planned correctly. A work presentation gives you a chance to shine the spotlight on your personal contribution to the company. The experience has the potential to show you in a positive manner. A work presentation delivered well can impress your work colleagues. Read more
I have listened to many speeches in my lifetime and nothing annoys me more than wasting time listening to a pointless speech. A speech that has no clear purpose leaves me scratching my head wondering what the speaker trying to tell me. Why did they bother to write the speech, learn it and then deliver it? Read more
I have listened to well over 400 speeches since I joined toastmasters and what I have learned is that speech preparation matters. It is what separates the average speech from a great speech. It is obvious who has prepared their speech and who is just winging it. A well prepared speech challenges the listener to take on a new viewpoint or embrace an old one. Read more
The objective of delivering a speech is to influence our audience and hopefully inspire them to do or look at a subject differently. When delivering a speech, a critical point is how we end it. Read more
When we have to make a speech we want to make a good one. We all want to make a speech that matters, a speech that will influence, educate and entertain our audience. However many of us never achieve this because we fail to start a speech well. Read more