Take a look at our Vincent Stevenson - Mauritius Interview - 16th September
How can polishing up our presentation skills help me grow my businesses?
It's very simple, your communication skills say a great deal about you. Whenever you meet a prospective client you have to inspire trust. If you can't put your proposition together coherently, it will be an uphill struggle. First impressions count. Find the words, deliver it coherently and inspire trust.
What are some common bad habits of public speakers?There are many (and we have all done them at one stage or another). Ums and ahs, a rambling lack of structure, reading your notes verbatim, killing the eye contact and spontaneity of the delivery. And fidgeting.
Why are people afraid of public speaking?Nobody likes the thought of failing in public, especially in front of friends and family, because that person knows he/she will constantly be reminded of it. Failing at work, clearly puts you at a competitive disadvantage with your colleagues. It could affect your promotion and career prospects.
What's the most important thing people can do to reduce their public speaking anxiety?This is a complex answer. It starts with effective breathing, relaxation and posture and then works its way through to effective speaking delivery. Knowing your content well will also bring increased confidence. Hard work and a genuine desire are the key attributes of any successful speaker. Colombian singing artist Shakira was recently asked the secret of her success. She replied hard work and intelligent practice.
If you want to be a good footballer, practice. If you want to be a good pianist, practice. However, practice does not make perfect. Expert practice makes perfect. Find a coach who can teach you the effective techniques of public speaking and then practice them and practice them regularly.
What are some rules we've heard about public speaking that may or may not be helpful?Rules that are helpful: be yourself, don't pretend to be somebody you're not. If you don't know your subject matter well enough, ask for more time and study hard to get familiar with it. It's not what you say - it's the way that you say it. If you say it with meaning, sincerity, conviction, belief or passion, you will be scoring highly with the audience. Always make eye contact with the audience.
Rules that are unhelpful: don't bother imagining your audience naked. A lack of planning and preparation is not the same as spontaneity. Avoid old jokes, contrived jokes and offensive jokes.
Do speakers ever get over nervousness or is it just a natural part of public speaking?A little bit of nervousness before a speech is a good thing. We have recently seen President Obama looking slightly apprehensive before his US debt problem announcements. If you know that you're audience won't like the message you have to deliver, it's natural to be nervous. If you are a footballer and you're not slightly nervous before a big match, you probably will not perform very well. If you don't care about the result, where is the incentive to win? Even experienced speakers get nervous before events. It's ok to be human.
What are some of the biggest mistakes people make when giving a PowerPoint presentation?Some Tips on PowerPoint
The presenter must take centre stage and take control.
Have a structure - tell them what you're going to tell them.
Ensure you have only one key point per slide. Ensure that each slide serves its purpose and pulls its weight. Can your audience read the slide?
Consistently use fonts and font sizes. Use non-serif fonts. No more than 2 per page.
If your company has a logo or brand, ensure it appears in each page (master slide - usually bottom right hand corner).
Know your audience - who are they and what's in it for them? Are you there to inform, persuade, inspire, motivate? Stick to your theme.
Know your PC. Find out which type of PC you'll be using. Email your presentation to the organisers and take a copy on a memory stick, just in case. Most modern laptops no longer use floppy disks. Find out in advance and always expect the unexpected.
Use a remote mouse - it's highly distracting for the audience if you are hunched over the PC during the presentation. Make sure that you address your audience and do not talk directly to the screen.
What's the one thing people should remember when attending a networking activity?Practice your elevator pitch. If you have just one minute to sell yourself and your services, it's a good idea to practice regularly. If in 60 seconds you cannot enthuse your colleague with the added value your company provides, I would describe it as a lost opportunity.
What are the biggest innovations your company has delivered in the last 12 months?It has been a terrific year at the College of Public Speaking. In November 2010 we ran our first Fear of Public Speaking Retreat in Canterbury. This course is now one of our most popular and we haven't really began to market with the various tools at our disposal. Fear of Public Speaking Retreat Canterbury
In July 2011, we launched the Diploma in Spoken Communication. A speaking development tool delivered entirely through the internet allowing students anywhere in the world the opportunity to have access to the UK's top speaking experts. Diploma in Spoken Communication
We have also announced the World's first international online speech contest. Anybody with a camera and internet access can deliver a 3-5 minute speech on the theme of 'If…'.
World Online Speech ContestFinally, we are rolling out a series of smart phone applications, starting with the iPhone and iPad versions of Public Speaking Pal, a concise guideline on how to create compelling speeches and presentations. Free Mobile Apps
I think the biggest break through this year is that we are now seen as thought leaders in the field of public speaking. People and journalists particularly are asking for interviews and they want us to do book reviews too. Some of our projects and clients are fascinating and there's a great energy within the team at the moment. We also have great plans for 2012 with the Olympics in London.
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The College of Public Speaking is committed to the development of effective communication throughout all strands of society, both within the UK and internationally. CoPS's trainers and lecturers devote a proportion of their time and expertise to a myriad of pro bono projects.