Speaking at The Girl Exhale Conference in FL 2012

Today we are going to take a look at letters D, E and F when it comes to presenting with power. By learning and applying the alphabet speaker tips, you will become more valuable in every phase of your presentation. And as your value increases, you will become more confident in your presentations, more productive, more vital to event planners, coordinators and those who seek to hire you. This is the alphabet soup for presenters, speakers, or anyone who has something meaningful to say.

Let’s begin…

D-Double dip.  Prepare yourself for the opportunity within the opportunity. This means that you set yourself up for the next ____________(fill in the blank). As a presenter or a speaker you must learn how to be an opportunist. How can you leverage this opportunity to build your list, join a future webinar, tele-seminar or smaller event based on your topic? Find out how you can partner or further support the organization that hired you to speak. This way you can engage the audience and the organization to hear more than your 15min-45min spiel. Presenting is one opportunity but look for an additional opportunity within the opportunity to build your platform and establish a stronger relationship.

E-Energy. Come prepared to fill the room with vim and vigor. Consider some techniques that will help shift the energy. Keep in mind your audience is just as nervous as you are. Ice breakers, music, affirmations or prayer are great ways to initiate the energy in the room. I found props and exercises to be a huge hit for my presentations. It calms my nerves and allows me to find out where the energy in the room is. Once you find out where the energy in the room is, then you can pull from that side in order to engage the other side of the room. If you feel the presentation is running dry or the energy is too low, consider giving them an exercise to do, give away some prizes, call up a few volunteers. Keep the ENERGY flowing. (Know your audience as well, based on the age range and the seating in the room, don’t ask everyone to stand up when the seating is awkward. Avoid the “butts in the face” and “boobs on the back” exercises because of limited space.  Avoid breathing exercises especially after lunch; the worst thing is to have someone breathing on your neck after an onion salad or fish sandwich ~ewwww).

F-Face locution. Remember that your face is talking just as you are presenting. What do I mean by “face locution”? You must be aware of your facial expressions and keep in mind that people are watching your facial reactions. If you look in the mirror and start to do a mock presentation, watch how your eyebrows move, your lips, your eyes, your forehead, etc. Your facial expressions in addition to your tone of voice give your words more definition and power. Your audience is going to respond based on your facial talk. So take a look at a past video you have done, or record yourself and see if your face is in conflict or agreement with your message. We all know the faces our mother used to give us and we know what those facial expressions meant without her opening her mouth. The same goes for us presenters. Watch what your face says…lol It may be cursing your audience out…

More speaker tips tomorrow…. (G, H, & I)

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Lucinda Cross, The Activator

Are you coming to the One Day Activate Intensive? This is the place to be if you are in the process of building your platform. Check it out and sign up if you feel this is your time to speak it, write it and live it. www.activateyourlifeweekend.com