How To Present June 2011 Edition

JUNE 2011

IN THIS ISSUE Glenn Capelli shares his tips for passionate learning and presenting The SECRET to effective teleconferences and webinars What does it take to be an excellent public speaker?

How to stand when you present How do you really CONNECT with your audience?

Traps for presenters PowerPoint Tips Success Stories Parents Corner

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Sales tips Answering Questions PLUS: much, much more....

How to Present Magazine

June 2011

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DIARY DATES INFLUENTIAL PRESENTATION SKILLS (2-day Public Program) Join Michelle at her next public program IN SYDNEY: • June 21-22 • July 19-20 BRISBANE: September 6-7 MELBOURNE: August 9-10 To register or chat about your specific needs please email: michelle@michellebowden.com.au

Who is Michelle Bowden?

Michelle is an expert in influential presentation skills in business. She has run her 2-day Influential Presentation Skills program over 550 times with many thousands of people and she’s been nominated for Educator of the Year 3 years running. Michelle is one of only 25 Australian females who is a Certified Speaking Professional the highest designation for speakers in the world. For a list of Michelle’s clients please go to: www.howtopresent.com.au

Michelle’s Update Welcome to the June edition of How to Present magazine. This issue is packed full of tips to help you sell your ideas more persuasively in a variety of ways.

As our world opens up and becomes more of a village than disparate countries operating in silos, we are increasingly finding ourselves communicating in business with people across states and countries via teleconferences. If you have ever felt frustrated during a teleconference you’ll love The secrets to effective teleconference and webinars.

How to connect with an audience is certainly a skill worth learning if you run meetings or facilitate groups in your role and sometimes it’s good to refocus on the basics of presenting so I’ve included some tips on How to Stand, Traps for Presenters, and Business Fashion.

If you’ve ever had a presenter say (about their awful death by PowerPoint slides): “I know you can’t read this, but I’m going to show you anyway”, then you’ll know that many business presenters forget that a presentation is an opportunity to connect with the audience and help them to solve their frustrations and concerns - so be sure to read the very important article on Position Shifting. PLUS I’ve included some inspiring success stories and a Presentation Tips from our featured expert and guru of learning, Glenn Capelli, to help you present like a professional.

So grab yourself a ’cuppa’, put your feet up and have a read!

And most importantly, make sure you put the invaluable advice into immediate action so you see some fast results. Happy Presenting!

www.howtopresent.com.au

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SUCCESS STORIES! managers seem a breeze compared to a room full of 15 and 16 year olds... My role is to build relationships with new and existing funders, meaning that it is important to be able to communicate what Beacon does in a clear and compelling way.

ROSEMARY CONN NATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER BEACON FOUNDATION

What prompted you to attend Michelle's Influential Presentation Skills program?

A key part of my role is presenting and although I was happy to stand up in front of people, sometimes I found it hard to bring the story of Beacon and the work we do with disadvantaged young people to life. It was a challenge to convey the passion I felt about the organisation when I was delivering a speech.

How did Michelle's program change your attitude to presenting?

Beacon Foundation is a national non-profit organisation working in 118 secondary schools across all Australian states and territories, believes every young Australian can develop an independent will to achieve personal success for themselves and their community.

The program has definitely given me a structure to follow and I find that presentations go so much better if I use the format rather than winging it (surprise, surprise!). I have still got a long way to go but have started to weave in some stories to my presentations and think about ‘what’s in it for my audience’ – it can be easy to forget that not everyone is motivated by the same things.

Beacon’s programs support young people to develop this focus through engaging and influencing the attitudes and behaviour of the broader community. By harnessing community involvement, it works within schools to ensure young people are either earning or learning at vulnerable transition points in their lives.

What kind of presenting do you do?

Working at the Beacon Foundation means presenting to teenagers one day and potential investors from large corporations the next. Senior www.howtopresent.com.au

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SUCCESS STORIES! (CONT.) I feel more confident walking into a room, holding my space and delivering a presentation. Planning has definitely given me more control over the direction of presentations to sponsors. I’ve even shared some of the tips with some of the students I’ve worked with – they are all experts now in pacing and looking at the audience!

What were your top three take aways from Michelle's training?

1. Put yourself in your audience’s shoes.

2. Plan the presentation and What positive outcomes have you achieved from improving your presentation skills?

Recently we presented to a global business and they have come onboard as a sponsor which was a great success story – I certainly felt more comfortable going into the meeting having had the training. Since I met Michelle my role within Beacon has changed and presenting has become even more important.

3. Bring it to life.

To support the Beacon Foundation go to http:// www.beaconfoundation.net/

HANDBAG ANYONE?

I feel more confident walking into a room, holding my space and delivering a presentation. Planning has definitely given me more control over the direction of presentations to sponsors. I’ve even shared some of the tips with some of the students I’ve worked with – they are all experts now in pacing and looking at the audience!

The ‘must have’ item used

In general, what positive outcomes have you achieved after improving your presentation skills?

Now there has been a retreat to a timeless and more practical alternative with a smaller handbag including the clutch and the shoulder handbag.

It's now more about neutrals, quilting and chains, very Chanel.

Recently we presented to a global business and they have come onboard as a sponsor which was a great success story – I certainly felt more comfortable going into the meeting having had the training. Since I met Michelle my role within Beacon has changed and presenting has become even more important.

www.howtopresent.com.au

to be the oversized handbag, big enough to carry everything including the kitchen sink. It was ostentatious with gilt, logos and very expensive.

For a classic look email: robin@definingstyle.com.au

How to Present Magazine

June 2011

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THE SECRETS TO EFFECTIVE TELECONFERENCES AND WEBINARS

BY MICHELLE BOWDEN Business people from companies far and wide are

Here are my top 10 tips for you:

moving to webinars as a key enabler of communication across states and countries. It’s

1.

Identify your purpose. What do you want

interesting because meetings can be boring at the

to accomplish with this meeting? Have you

best of times, and they can be even more boring

chosen the right type of media for

when the presenter isn’t in the room with you –

communicating the message? Is a webinar

they are over the phone in a teleconference or

the best way to update your team?

over the web in a webinar.

2.

Learn how to use the software. Most of

Presenters of teleconferences and webinars

us don’t have any coaching before we have

frequently ask me – in fact it’s the MOST

to log in and get started, and invariably

frequently asked question: “how can you get

technological glitches ruin people’s focus.

people to listen when you can’t see them?”

Learn how to use the software so that you can relax and focus on communicating the message.

3.

Send the agenda in advance and make it interactive. Make sure that in your agenda you are specific about who should talk on which part of the message – mix it up so that people from the different countries and states are communicating every few minutes – this gives people very little time to switch off (or put you on ‘mute’ and go to the toilet!) . Be sure that you also

Well I think the answer is we need to make the

indicate in advance that every attendee will

technology secondary to the human connections

be asked to sign that they listened,

and communicate our message as though we are

participated and understood what was

in the room with the audience.

covered. This is of course excellent for gaining commitment up front!

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THE SECRETS TO EFFECTIVE TELECONFERENCES AND WEBINARS the head of the table” (and then he says what he wants to say.

“Gladys on my direct right” and then he speaks with Gladys. This VP had ‘spies’ in the various countries check to see what was happening and he found that because people were being asked to sit in a certain chair – they did!

And better still – they didn’t get up!

5.Create compelling content. What do you need to say

4. Include a seating plan in the agenda, and interact with the attendees. This is going to

to shift your audience from their current

seem completely nuts! A client of mine who is a

state, to your desired state? Stick to only

Vice President, was finding people were getting

essential content.

up and leaving the room and he had no idea who was there and who wasn’t! So he submitted a

6.

Create stimulating slides. Slides can

seating plan with his agenda. The seating was

reinforce your key messages when

around one huge virtual board table. And

designed well – keep them simple and use

although people were in different countries and

mainly appropriate images from a photo

states he sat them around the table as though

library like www.istockphoto.com.

they were all sitting around the same table. So if Fred in Singapore was at the head of the table, he

7.

Warm up your voice. Make your voice

was sure that no one else was placed in Fred’s

sing! When presenting online it’s critical

seat. During the course of his meetings he refers

that we have clear, crisp articulation, rich

to people by the name and by their position

resonant tonality, strong vocal power and a

around the table. For example he says: “Fred – at

variety of speed, volume and pitch.

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How to Present Magazine

June 2011

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THE SECRETS TO EFFECTIVE TELECONFERENCES AND WEBINARS sound). At the very least practice ‘real time’ and online rather going over it in your head.

10.Make it interactive and get their signoff. Ha! In case this isn’t obvious already – the best way to stop people putting you on mute and doing their ‘real’ work is to keep them interacting throughout. Make sure you plan to ask and answer the audience’s questions. And make sure that every one 8.

Sharpen up your presentation skills. In particular tap into your personal store of charisma through the communication of your emotional objectives. What do you want your audience to feel? Make sure you feel it too! There will be opportunity for your audience to be concerned, relieved, optimistic, empowered and compelled at different times in your message – make sure your voice and body reflect this so you make it easy for your audience to

the meeting, understood the content, participated to the best of their ability and will action the relevant action items.

Remember ‘what gets measured gets done’, so a signature will work wonders for you!

11. One more for extra value! Give yourself some feedback. Once the presentation is over, be sure to work out what you’d improve for next time and what you did

know how to feel at different times.

9.

of the attendees signs to say they attended

well – write it down and be sure to read over this feedback plenty of time before

Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. Exceptional presenters rehearse

your next presentation.

– even in this forum. Jump online and practice the whole presentation (ideally

These tips work! Try them and reap the benefits!

with someone who can feedback how you

Happy tele-presenting!

www.howtopresent.com.au

How to Present Magazine

June 2011

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TIPS FROM A PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER GLENN CAPELLI PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER

4. Learn your content well and master the

A professional speaker, Mensa member and expert educator, Glenn Capelli delivers messages of creativity, innovation, and dynamic thinking skills to audiences around the world. Many will know him best for Thinking Caps, a collection of inspiring, imaginative, amusing and often moving stories about the way we live and learn.

Glenn is clearly a master at his craft – he’s so connected to and has studied with and presented with so many of the great contributors to learning in our world. You can hear his passion for learning in nearly every word can’t you? Here are his key points today:

5. Do the work then have confidence in your

craft of presenting.

1. It’s all about learning.

2. Honour your folk! Don’t be too judgemental,

different folk have different mindsets – let people talk and interact at times. Some learners will reject before they accept – so be patient.

3. Use humour and allow the laughter in the

group.

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content.

6. Music has a variety of different purposes.

Be purposeful. You can use the meaning in the lyrics or you can use music for mood.

Snippets of music can enhance a point.

7. So ask yourself – why and how are you

using music, slides and interactivity – ask yourself what’s the point and what’s the link?

8. A passive concert is where there’s a set

rhythm to the music that repeats. And you gently – in a minute or two – say your key points.

9. Glenn suggests the song “And when I die”

by the band Blood Sweat and Tears gives us a great insight into the rhythm of a presentation. There’s slow, fast, repetition and pauses – in a pattern we can replicate with our presentation design.

10. The sub-start can work to open up the

audience. There should always be a point and a link and maybe there is humour in a sub-start.

11. When you tell stories make sure they link to

the reason you are there.

12. Have a depth and breadth to the content you can present.

What an honour and a treat to hear from Glenn – wonderful! If you’d like to hear the interview with Glenn for yourself please grab a copy of How to Present - Tips from the Masters from my website.

How to Present Magazine

June 2011

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UNDERSTANDING YOUR AUDIENCE THROUGH ‘POSITION SHIFTING’

BY MICHELLE BOWDEN can look at any experience we have. They are called first, second and third perceptual positions.

We all naturally spend time in these three positions. They help us to understand the situations, conversations and experiences and their subsequent outcomes with greater insight.

1st Position

Relationships can be so complex can’t they? One minute we think we ‘know’ a person and the next they behave in a way that was completely unexpected that ‘throws us for a six!’ Do you ever find yourself in a situation of conflict that has arisen because different people created different meanings from the one communication? ‘But I thought you said...’ It’s frustrating when the same situation or behaviour means different things to different people.

Have you ever heard yourself say to someone ‘you just don’t understand!’ At times have you found yourself thinking that some people are seemingly so self absorbed and so interested in their own needs with very little care for others, whilst others seems to have little thought for themselves and a complete focus on others?

You’ll be pleased to know that there is a way to improve the richness of your experiences and increase your behavioural choices. You would know that there is limited wisdom in only one point of view. ‘Position Shifting’ or ‘Triple Descriptions’ defines three main ways that we www.howtopresent.com.au

1st position (SELF position) is where you experience the world from your own reality. In this position you are ‘associated’. You see and hear other people and experiences from your own point of view, with your own thoughts and feelings in mind and you have little interest in the wants or needs of others. Your primary question would be: ‘How does this affect me?’

2nd Position 2nd position (OTHER position) is where experiencing the world from the other person's position. In this position it is as if you are completely in the other person’s shoes. The deeper your rapport with people, the easier it is for you to shift into this position and understand a situation or experience from their perspective.

Your primary question would be ‘How would this appear to them?’

3rd Position 3rd Position (OBSERVER position) is where you experience the world from the outside. Here you have no personal involvement in the situation, you are completely independent. You are like a fly on the wall as an objective observer, taking a helicopter view of the situation. In third position you observe the situation from first position (your own reality) and you also observe the situation

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June 2011

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UNDERSTANDING YOUR AUDIENCE THROUGH POSITION SHIFTING (CONT.) from second position (the other person’s perspective).

Application of Position Shifting All three positions are equally important and the idea is that we develop an ability to move freely between them.

There are a variety of uses for the skill of position shifting:

1

Conflict situations either one-on-one or in

groups can be well managed when the issues and needs of each party concerned are addressed. In biological evolution it is the species that are the same that come into conflict and struggle to survive, whereas the species that keep evolving and changing according to their environment continue to grow and prosper. John Grinder (NLP expert) said that ‘wisdom comes from balance and you cannot balance unless there are different forces to be balanced’.

2

Problem Solving and Decision Making can

be enhanced by shifting freely between the positions and focusing on the outcomes of each party involved.

3

Presenters and Public Speakers need to

consider all three positions in order to increase the chances of influencing their audience.

Second Position is an extremely useful place for gathering information about your audience. It is where you ‘empathise’ with your audience members’ situations ‘as if’ you were them. This helps you decide on the appropriate language patterns and tools to use when you present, thus increasing your audience buy-in to your message.

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The next time you are preparing a presentation, make sure you shift into second position to get a sense of your audience’s needs. And then, when you are presenting consider the different positions so that your audience experiences the most engaging you. You may just enjoy presenting!

Did you know? ... a note on nervousness as a speaker Did you know that a phobia arises from being ‘stuck’ in first position? (For information on first position see the article above.) That means that a nervous presenter is generally presenting from first position and is typically plunging right back into past negative memories and panic when they speak in public. If this sounds like you, a positive step toward reducing anxiety when presenting is to present from Third Position (as an Observer).

This means you would be experiencing the presentation not just from your own frightened state, but also from the audience perspective as well. Remember ‘it’s not about me, it’s all about the audience’.

How to Present Magazine

June 2011

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LET OPPORTUNITY HIT YOU In sales, people meet you, they come to like you and pretty soon they choose to do business with you.

There’s no need for complicated models -that’s the sales process in a nutshell.

process to get started.

So get out there into the middle of things and start making appointments, meeting people, listening to people talk about themselves and their issues and problems. Be someone people want to spend their time with.

Learn as much as you can about people become someone people trust - a trusted advisor.

If you’re not out there meeting people then you’re not allowing the natural sales

In other words, let opportunity hit you!

EXIT STRATEGY Do you want to retire, leave, or do something else in your life?

Well there’s a trick to the graceful exit.

It begins with the vision to recognise when a job or a life stage is over and let it go.

It means leaving what’s over without denying it’s validity or it’s past importance in our lives.

It involves a sense of future, a belief that every exit is an entry, that we are moving on instead of out.

Ellen Goodman

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How to Present Magazine

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YOU

IS IT TIME IMPROVED YOUR PRESENTATION SKILLS? COME JOIN ME! Dramatically improve the way you present and influence.

nominated for Educator of the Year for the last 3 years.

Techniques are embedded so you remember them decades later.

Attend one of my Influential Presentation Skills programs.

Absorb yourself in a generative and experiential approach. Learn something then practice, then learn something then practice…

It’s a life changing experience!

Group sizes are limited to only 10 people per program.

BRISBANE DATES September 6-7

Risk free - 100% moneyback guarantee.

Risk free approach to a subject most people find ‘daunting’!

MELBOURNE DATES August 3-4

Endorsed by thousands of people from over a hundred corporations around Australia.

Interactive and personalised.

Facilitated by Michelle Bowden who has over 18 years experience running her programs and who has been

Plenty of time for you to get personal one-on-one time with Michelle’s during the program.

Address your specific, personal needs.

SYDNEY DATES: June 21-22 July 19-20 August 23-24

To chat about your specific needs or receive more information please email Michelle directly: michelle@michellebowde n.com.au

Learning with lots of laughter.

RISK YOURSELF Selling your products, services or ideas involves taking a personal risk.

You can look too pushy.

You will be rejected.

People won’t return your calls But the rewards outweigh the negatives and you’ll wonder “why didn’t I do that in the first place?”

Step up and say the thing you want to say to the person who needs to hear it!

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How to Present Magazine

June 2011

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TRAP NO. 1 FOR PRESENTERS

BY MICHELLE BOWDEN “One of the advantages of being disorganized is that one is always having surprising discoveries.” A.A. Milne There are lots of little traps that speakers and presenters can fall into when they lack experience. A.A. Milne is right when he says disorganisation can produce surprising discoveries. But whilst the surprising discoveries can be interesting they can also mean we never get booked to deliver a business presentation again! up on the stage and (in an attempt to build rapport) Something we can underestimate when we present told the audience about how he’d had a big night out on the town with his brother the night before in business is the amount of preparation and organisation that goes into delivering a successful

and as a result he had a really bad hangover so

speech. A disorganised speaker is a speaker with

‘please bare with me’. Later in the presentation it

whom most people won’t want to work. So to start emerged that he hadn’t prepared his speech prior the new year, I thought I’d share some thoughts to to turning up that day. You can just imagine what the audience thought of this guy! I can only

help you fast track your speaking success!

imagine how many people cancelled business with It’s important to prepare and rehearse before you

that company as a result of the complete

present to an audience and make sure you create a disrespect and arrogance of this guy. checklist of all the things you need to do in advance to ensure the presentation goes smoothly. Here’s a checklist of things to think about: I was speaking at a conference event a few years

■

Has travel been organised?

ago at which one of the speakers was the Business

■

Do you have a back-up copy of your presentation slides?

Development Director of a major corporation. He was the second speaker of the morning and he got

■

If you use notes, do you have a copy of your speech printed out?

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TRAP NO. 1 FOR PRESENTERS (CONT.) ■

Will you bring your laptop?

■

Is your version of the slides compatible with

meals for yourself if you are speaking later in

the laptop at the venue?

the day?

■

■

■

Will you need any other equipment like flip

preferred room set-up to the organiser to be

them or ask the conference organiser to do

sure the audience isn’t seated in straight,

that for you?

parallel lines (a curved, or U-shape is nicer

Do you need to bring your own slide

for your audience) ■

Would you like some water placed on the

Do you have your own microphone or will

stage – who is going to put it on the lectern

you be using the one that the venue

for you?

provides?

■

Have you sent through a layout of your

chart stands, paper, pens – will you bring

changing remote?

■

■

Do you need to organise refreshments or

■

What kind of microphone does the venue

How will you know the time so you can be sure you don’t take too long?

use? Are you suitably dressed to accommodate their microphone? Do you

I’m sure these tips will help you so you to avoid

need to wear a belt so they can clip the

some of the mistakes most business presenters

microphone on to your clothes?

make. Anyone can be an exceptional presenter, it’s

■

Will you be taking any resources for sale?

just a matter of knowing what to do and doing it!

■

Do you need order forms and credit card facilities or will you gift the resources to the audience?

■

Do you need someone there in case people want to buy your resources in droves?

■

Will you film the event?

■

Is the organiser filming the event and do you need to find out the colour of the backdrop to the stage and wear certain clothes (so the audience can see you clearly).

■

Where are you in the order of speakers and who else is speaking?

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How to Present Magazine

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ANSWERING QUESTIONS WITH FINESSE

BY MICHELLE BOWDEN The question and answer (Q&A) session is a part of the presentation that makes many people feel quite nervous. I think the nervousness comes from the uncertainty about what the audience might ask.

I know that many people feel the Q&A is difficult to control, and no one wants to look like a ‘goose’ in front of their audience because they don’t know how to answer a question.

It’s a good idea for you to learn to facilitate the Q&A so you showcase your professional expertise and make the Q&A section of your presentation a really interesting and engaging part of your overall presentation event.

it's important is because....’ This Check is called giving status, it’s where you compliment the question Confirm the ‘asker' is happy with asker and make them feel your answer. You might like to special. nod your head or give some direct eye contact.

Paraphrase As a presenter, our role is What if I don't know the answer generally to assist our audience This is where you repeat the to the question? to be relaxed, engaged and question in your own words. attentive throughout the Q&A You do this in case the audience There are a few things to and there is a real art to questioning. So let’s look at how didn't hear the question and also consider if you don’t know the to ensure that you heard the answer to a question. you might ask for and then question and understood it answer questions. correctly. Remember to also Don't fake it! Your audience is open your eye contact and body smart and you will likely break There are 4 steps you can use to ensure you maintain rapport with language out to the group as you rapport if they sense you are repeat the question. lying to them. everyone in the group throughout the Q&A section of Try these four steps when Answer your presentation. answering questions in your business meetings and notice Answer the question in an Acknowledge the organised and structured way so how much more thorough and question asker easy it is for your audience! it's easy for everyone in your For Example: ‘Important audience to understand what question Geoff, and the reason Happy Presenting! you have said.

4

2

3

1

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WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A GREAT PUBLIC SPEAKER?

BY MICHELLE BOWDEN 6.

Do you plan to tell stories that link to your content and help bring your data to life?

7. Do you use a variety of presentation aids such as whiteboard, PowerPoint, video, handouts, props?

8. Can you present with limited use of speaker's notes?

9. Do you rehearse?

10. Do you eat well and rest yourself before presenting?

11. Do you warm up your body, voice and mind before presenting?

Delivery

I believe everyone can be an exceptional presenter.

It’s just a matter of knowing what to do and doing it! So I’ve created this excellent checklist that you can go through and use to evaluate your ability as a presenter. Give it a try – it will help you work out what you need to improve (and take it from me all these things are so easy to improve). It will also show you what you are already doing well – and there are probably more positives than you realise!

Analysis Do you know how to work out what you’re trying to achieve?

2. Can you think about your presentation from your audience’s shoes?

Design

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

1.

1.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Do you know structure a presentation with your audience’s needs in mind?

Can you design your presentation in a minimum of time?

Do you deliver your opening in a way that builds rapport and motivates your audience?

Do you prepare for and manage objections?

Do you deliver compelling facts, figures, and data? www.howtopresent.com.au www.howtopresent.com.au

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

Is your clothing smart and appropriate?

Do you groom your hair and nails?

Do you smell great?

Do you stand tall with a straight back?

Do you allow your natural facial expressions to show?

Do you look at people?

Do you let your hands move freely when you speak?

Do you move around in the space?

Do you allow your voice to exhibit a variety of pitch, speed, and volume?

Do you sound the same presenting as you do when you speak normally?)

Do you speak clearly?

Do you minimise rambling Are you able to stay on track with your message?

Are you able to avoid filler words like “um”, “ahrr”, “you know?”

Do you engage your audience?

Do you remember to explain the boundaries for the presentations (agenda, timings, questions, phones) Do you tell stories?

Are you able to present with PowerPoint as an aid instead of letting the PowerPoint take over your presentation?

to Present Magazine HowHow to Present Magazine

June 2011 September 2010

16 16

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A GREAT PUBLIC SPEAKER?

BY MICHELLE BOWDEN 19. Do you summarise key points towards the end?

20. Do you remember to call your audience to action?

21. Can you manage a Q&A session effectively?

22. Do you know how to manage ‘difficult’ audience members?

23. Do you stick to the time allocated to you?

24. Is there anything else you do well?

25. And what else?

26. And what else?

If you’d like to improve your ability in any of these areas register on one of my upcoming public programs where numbers are limited to ten (10) people and you can dramatically improve your ability to present and influence people.

GEN Y Avril Henry, expert on corporate leadership generational differences suggests some 70% of managers in Australian workplaces have a negative view of Generation Y employees, which she believes is largely due to the fact that they don’t understand them, nor do they understand what motivates them. The top 5 motivators of Generation Y are: • Inspiring leadership • A supportive work environment which encourages new ideas and creativity, and gives regular, constructive feedback • Mentoring, including bosses who “like and respect” young people • Access to training and development, and the most up-to-date technology • Flexibility Avril says, "what I think is most important is that Gen Y’s number one motivator is inspiring leadership. When I have interviewed Gen Ys and asked them what this means to them, they say: 'I www.howtopresent.com.au

want to work for someone who loves what they do.

In fact, I want to work for someone who loves what they do so much, that they are willing to share with me what they know, teach me and answer all my questions.'”

Avril asks an important question: Are you willing to do this for the Gen Ys in your organisation?

If not, then you will not retain them for any period of time. They are loyal to good managers and their team mates, not the organisation, industry or profession. http://www.avrilhenry.com.au/

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ɱ

Thinking

Caps

is

a

delightful,

provocative

and

occasionally

salacious

read.

Reading

it

can

be

a

personal

growth

activity

or

daily

entertainment.

I

recommend

Thinking

Caps

for

anyone

who

has

a

brain

and

likes

to

use

it.

Stephen

C.

Lundin

Ph.D. Ƥ FISH!

I

am

absolutely

loving

,

it’s

clever,

funny

and

thought

provoking

and

very

entertaining.

I

took

it

with

me

to

the

hairdressers

yesterday

and

had

three

people

ask

what

I

was

reading!

Glenn

the

book

is

simply

stunning.

As

a

trainer

I

am

always

looking

for

inspiration

and

some

thinking

that

stimulates

not

stagnates

me.

I

started

reading

it

on

a

plane

and

could

feel

the

guy

next

to

me

giving

me

the

eye

as

I

laughed

out

loud.

I

have

a

complaint

about

the

book!

I

got

home

late-­‐ish

and

needed

to

sleep

but

I

made

the

mistake

of

ƪ Ǥ

the

next

morning

–

I

blame

you.

As

soon

as

I

saw

the

contents

page

of

ǡ

I

knew

I

had

to

have

the

book.

Not

just

for

the

content,

but

for

the

amazing

design

too!

I’m

absolutely

in

love

with

what

you

have

put

together!!

Love

the

book.

Giggled

most

of

the

ƪ Ǥ I

took

my

mum

out

today-­‐

she

is

89

years

old

and

very

sharp-­‐

it

was

lovely

to

hear

her

chuckle

away

at

Glenn’s

writings

as

she

turned

each

page.

A

delightful

insightful

collection

of

thoughts

and

remedies

in

a

unique

book

that

can

be

opened

and

read

from

any

page.

It

captivates

the

reader

and

gets

the

old

grey

matter

working.

www.howtopresent.com.au

NEW BOOK RELEASE

Glenn

Capelli

presents ‘An

imaginative,

inspiring,

nostalgic

and

humorous

look

at

life.’

thinking

caps Glenn

Capelli

Thinker

and

provocateur

Glenn

Capelli

challenges

us

to

ponder

some

of

life’s

Ƥ Ƥ with

quirky

anecdotes,

lessons,

humour,

wit,

wisdom

and

uncommon

sense

on

every

page.

thinking

caps

An

imaginative,

inspiring,

nostalgic

and

humorous

look

at

life.

When

you

need

your

creative

juices

kick-­‐ started

open

thinking

caps

at

any

page,

and

your

mindset

will

never

be

the

same

again.

A

great

book

that

challenges

you

to

think,

encourages

you

to

feel

and

reassures

you

with

its

truthful

knowing.

Forty

insightful

stories

from

a

gifted

explorer

as

he

bumps

into

life.

www.glenncapelli.com

How to Present Magazine

June 2011

18

HOW TO STAND WHEN YOU PRESENT

BY MICHELLE BOWDEN Do you know what to do with your legs when you present? There is a link between the way you stand and the congruence of your message.

Is there a recommended way to stand when presenting?

Most presenters are at their most nervous at the start and finish of their presentation, and in the body of their presentation if situations of conflict or discomfort arise. It’s during these times that I recommend you consider standing in what is called the Natural Stance.

It’s called the Natural Stance because it’s how we learnt to stand when we were little. It was the natural way for us to stand when we were first learning to hold up our own body before learning to walk. We all once stood naturally in the Natural Stance. Interestingly though, there is some research that suggests that in western society we are attracted to patterns of asymmetry. So, although most of us stood in the Natural Stance when we were little, when we hit adolescence we mostly unlearn the Natural Stance in favour of more asymmetrical postures.

Why is the Natural Stance effective?

Standing symmetrically assists in diaphragmatic rather than chest breath. It's important to breath diaphragmatically if you want a strong voice. The Natural Stance will also help you feel solid and more confident as you stand to address your audience. Finally, standing in this posture helps your audience to feel confident about you too!

It’s a really simple stance to master. Here’s what you do: Place your feet under the bones of your hips

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3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Ensure your weight is fully over both of your feet Slightly relax your knees Imagine a bowl of your favourite drink all around your pelvis that’s full to the brim. I don’t know about you, I wouldn’t want to spill a single drop over the sides!

Brace your core - your deep down tummy muscles Relax your shoulders (this is very important so you don’t look or feel stiff) Ensure your head is to the front.

Can I stand in other ways too?

How do I do the Natural Stance?

1.

2.

Yes, the Natural Stance is for the times when you need to look and feel strong and unflustered! At other times in your presentation you will choose to stand in the plethora of other body postures that reinforce your message. For example, sometimes you will choose to lean because you want to come

How to Present Magazine

June 2011

19

HOW TO STAND WHEN YOU PRESENT (CONT.) across as more casual and approachable.

The point is: you need to do what’s necessary with your body to maximise the chances of influencing your audience.

Is there a stance I should not do as a presenter?

The Fig Leaf or Crotch Clutch position is where you stand with your hands covering your crotch! I commonly notice that male board members are photographed in this stance! Ha! This is the only stance you shouldn’t do. It makes everyone look at the one part of your body you’d probably rather they didn’t! I’ll say no more!

Something to think about...

The next time you are asked to stand and address a crowd - think about your body and allow yourself to use your body to reinforce your message.

TELEMARKETING TIPS Are you in sales and find yourself dreading picking up the phone to prospective clients? Expert Jenny Cartwright suggests that it’s all about listening. Listening allows you to engage in some important behaviours: empathising and summarising.

Once you receive permission to continue the call: listen to what your customer is saying, empathise with their point of view and summarise their needs.

FREE GIFT: Yippee! Same gift as last month! If you’d like a copy of Don’t Get Hung Up! be one of the first 5 readers to email michelle@michellebowden.com.au

www.howtopresent.com.au

How to Present Magazine

June 2011

20

CREATIVE AGENCIES: 10 THINGS YOUR CLIENT WANTS FROM YOU

BY ANNE MILES

If you're a smooth-talking sales person who runs a script that you have ‘tailored up’ thinking that it 'works' the clients every time, then this isn't likely for you. There's no place for that kind of thinking in my world at all and has been no part in my own success in sales. What I'm about is consultative selling - getting an understanding of the client's issues and serving them. Sometimes that even means referring them elsewhere. Gasp! So, here are 10 things that your client wants from you (not the only 10 but 10 to put into practice now).

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1.

Be Human. Be Real - Connect at a gut level and don't just recite the words as if they are separate to you. Put everything else aside and really be there for the conversation. Your client can hear it in your voice and will be disconnected from the beginning if you're not real. Be warm, sincere, really want to understand them. There is a difference and it can't be faked.

2.

Ask Good Questions - ask lots of questions that help you understand what their real

How to Present Magazine

June 2011

21

10 THINGS YOUR CLIENT WANTS FROM YOU IN SALES (CONT.) 2.

3.

problem is and then you can better find a solution that suits them. Don't just read a script either, really talk and look behind what they say.

The Truth - They want to know where your strengths are and some honest feedback about your weaknesses. Show them examples of the standard of work they can get from your business and be straight up. If you have a set 'look' or style then show them the parameters of the work you do.

Make it their decision.

4.

To See Your Value - they wont be able to see what you're worth unless you tell them.

Compare to competitors (be nice), compare to industry standards... whatever it takes to show why you're good value to work with.

They often need to sell your work to others give them the language to be able to do so.

5.

Think Like You Are A Website Landing Page - they're busy and certainly not sitting around all day waiting for your call. So, think like you're a website page - you have 7 seconds to hold their attention before they start figuring out how to hang up on you.

That means no small talk. Once you get going there are some personality types that wont like it if you don't have any small talk at all, so be careful to read them properly and see which kind of personality they are once you get going into conversation.

6.

Have A Reason To Call - make a reason if you don't have one - ask advice, get a referral, offer a sample, offer to be a back up in case their usual supplier is not available for example. None of this is about asking for business or to make them listen to a spiel.

It’s about creating opportunities to begin building a relationship which is more important in the long run. www.howtopresent.com.au

7.

Do What You Say You Will - call back when you say you will, deliver what is promised.

8.

Get Feedback - clients love to be involved in your business and will want to have input into how you work. Ask - they love being asked and you end up serving them better and on ongoing jobs build an even stronger relationship...yes, even if the news is bad.

9.

Don't Be Too Creative - well, I know the ultimate goal for creative people is to deliver awesome work because in the end the better the creative the better the result. It's just how you present it at this crucial time that matters. If they don't 'get' you then you wont get past home base. Present to the client in terms of what they want first results, solutions, process, relationships.

Then, along the way your sparkling creativity can come out to play.

10. Think Like Them - just like when we go to our Grandmother's house we behave a certain way that's different to when we talk to our mates at the pub. They're all versions of ourself, but with respect to who we're with. Get in their head respectfully.

Anne Miles is a Business Development Specialist at

How to Present Magazine

www.annemiles.com.au June 2011

22

SYDNEY VERSUS MELBOURNE STYLE

BY ROBIN POWIS I had a whirl wind trip to Melbourne recently for Personal Branding Workshops and I also squeezed in some shopping and research. I know Melbourne women wear a lot of black and are quite trendy, but they do dress up!

It's ok to look feminine in the workplace.

Tailor your wardrobe to be in line with your role and industry.

Keep your accessories to a minimum depending on your role.

Keep your skirt at knee length.

Shine your shoes.

While wandering around Sydney in the city this week, I was distressed to see so many dishevelled workers who don't seem to care about how they look.

City Dressing Tips:

Maintain your lipstick colour throughout the day.

Consider a stylish scarf tied in an interesting way to keep you warm in winter For more information go to http:// www.definingstyle.com.au/

Don't dress too trendy unless you work in fashion, advertising or entertainment.

DEVELOP TRUST Trust takes time. If you want people to trust you and your ideas, you need to be able to express yourself with confidence, clarity and influence every time. If you want people to trust you they need to know about your achievements so they find you credible and worth listening to.

Develop a way of saying what you mean succinctly with examples and make sure it’s ALWAYS audience-focused. Remember it’s not about you, it’s all about your audience - especially when you are explaining your credentials and achievements.

Tell people about your achievements in a way that makes sense to them and in a way that is interesting to them. Don’t expect your boss to

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always know how hard you have worked, how much you have cared and how well you have performed. Often the boss is the last person to know this about you. So tell them!

A big part of trust is about how you help the other person feel safe with you, confident in your abilities and credentials and when trust is high people feel good around you.

Who do you need to have trust you? What could you do to advance your trust relationship with them? It’s probably as simple as updating them on more of your activity that you are doing at present. Good luck!

How to Present Magazine

June 2011

23

PARENTS CORNER Parents Corner is a dedicated section designed to give adults tips for equipping their children with one of the most fundamental skills they can develop in life - the skill of public speaking.

If your children fear public speaking there’s lots of things you can do to help them. You can assist your child or children to be confident public speakers by simply following a few simple tips.

How should I stand?

You should stand with your feet under the bones of your hips, tummy back not slouched forwards, shoulders back and your hands by your side.

How should I start?

Why not try an icebreaker for your start? Most kids start with “Hello everyone. My name is X and I’m here to talk with you about X”. This is an OK start, but not very interesting to the teacher or the class.

And it’s not the best way to make yourself stand out.

An icebreaker is a quick fact, figure, statistic, or story that grabs your audience’s attention and makes them sit up and listen to you. You will find all sorts of interesting facts and information for use in icebreakers on the internet. Here’s an example my daughter Maddie used for her presentation at school this month. She found this information on the internet: “Recently in Cairns, a whale beached itself. Sadly the whale died. When the scientists conducted an autopsy to find out what made the whale die, they found 6 square meters of plastic bags inside the whale’s digestive system. The poor thing had beached itself because it was slowly choking on all that man-made plastic. The same plastic we get from Coles, Woolies or our local shopping centre. (pause) Say NO to Plastic bags!” www.howtopresent.com.au

The school captain at my children’s school also had a fantastic opening to his speech this week. He made a space intercom system noise and then said in the perfect American accent: “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” and then he introduced himself and explained he would be talking about the amazing historical event of man walking on the moon. Excellent work!

Should I use palm cards?

I’m personally against them, as no adult uses them, do we? Schools do tend to teach children to use them and in many schools the children have to use them. It’s still ideal that you practice the speech so much you can do it without palm cards. Then be sure to practice with your palm cards so that you know when to turn to the next one (even if you’re not reading them).

Happy Presenting!

How to Present Magazine

June 2011

24

BATH CRAYONS

CD OF THE MONTH

Have you been to one of my conference presentations or attended one of my training programs? If yes you’ll know that bath crayons are an incredibly important part of the exceptional presenter’s confidence arsenal!

Available at toy shops everywhere.

Thinking of improving your presentation skills but don’t want to go on a training program? You need to grab a copy of How to Present - Tips from the Master. Tips from 13 of Australia’s top public speakers. Go to http:// howtopresent/products

MRS CAREY’S CONCERT A triumphant documentary about excellence and being the best you can be. Karen Carey, music director of MLC School, Sydney, prepares her students for a concert at the Opera House. I wept! Highly recommended! http://www.mrscareysconcert.com/

LIP COLOUR Estee Lauder Pure Colour Beige is the ‘business perfect’ lip colour for most complexions.

BOOK OF THE MONTH

MICHELLE LOVES

Here are some of my favourite things for you

OK, I know it’s MY book, but if you are serious about really improving your presentation skills then you need Don’t Picture me Naked. It’s my 2-day advanced training program in a book. Go to my website

FEEL GOOD

LIMITED EDITION

MARY POPPINS

Blend some ice, soy/rice milk, & 2 cups of berries. Then sit back and drink the taste of heaven! This berry smoothie is packed full of anti-oxidants and is super for you!

From the vibrant top notes, to the rich floral middle notes, to the dramatic yet smooth end notes, the feeling is vibrant, luminous and irrepressibly alive with Estee Lauder’s Wild Elixir.

I took my daughter to see this wonderful show and itʼs supercalifragalisticexpialidocious!

For tickets in Sydney: visit the Disney website

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How to Present Magazine

June 2011

25

Photo Gallery

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How to Present Magazine

June 2011

26