On-Site Public Speaking Training – Presentation Training: can be designed to the needs of your company or organization and can be delivered on-site at a time and location of your choice. If you have any questions please call or email us with any additional questions you may have. Contact us.
Public Speaking Seminars
The Art of Public
Speaking Seminars
Our Public Speaking training seminars are designed for both the
inexperienced presenter or as a refresher for more experienced members
of your company or organization. Our public speaking training seminars (seminar) are offered in
most major cities across the United States and Canada. All public
speaking skills
training classes are small which assures each training seminar participant that they will be allotted an extensive amount of time with each of the two senior level public speaking seminar administrators.
Our public speaking training seminars (presentation training) will eliminate all participants fears or inexperience in public speaking and dramatically improve public speaking skills whether you are persuading, educating, or informing. Our highly interactive public speaking seminars (seminar) focus on professional business communication including preparation, structure, delivery, and strategy, use of visual aids, and handling tough questions & answers. Contact us today by phone at 713-627-7700 or via email: service@publicspeakingtraining.net, Ask for our Public Speaking Seminar Customer Service Specialist.
Public Speaking Seminars: Confident Public Speaking Off The Cuff
What is speaking off the cuff, impromptu speaking or speaking without notice? It is a speech without planning or preparation and often without prior notice. For example when you are called upon, unexpectedly, to offer your opinion or provide instruction. One of the statements that surely puts fear and terror in people's minds is the statement, "Would you like to say a few words about that point; what is your opinion on that particular topic; or how about you stand up and say a few words to the troops" These questions and requests to speak can occur at any presentation that you give, any meeting you attend, at job interviews and during interactive workshops. And for many of us, these requests for us to speak unprepared come with increased anxiety, stress and a sense of helplessness.
When are you likely to be asked to speak without notice?
• At meetings
• When your manager asks for an opinion or an update on a project that you have been working on
• When people learn that you have completed a Public Speaking Course.
• At social functions to celebrate birthdays, anniversary, wedding or christening
• A business or sports function.
• In tutorials or interactive lectures at university
• As an MC or Chair of a meeting
• At networking events; 60 second self introductions or elevator speeches
• Job interviews
• As a witness in a court of law
Preparation
The key to successful and confident speaking off the cuff is in fact preparation. While this sounds like a conflict of terms, you can prepare for most situations that would arise and require you to speak off the cuff. You obviously prepare for meetings, for job interviews and for when you present workshops or seminars. You can look at the agenda before hand, see what topics and what projects are being discussed. Is your project not on the agenda, but you could possibly be asked for an update? Does the agenda have a section "Time for comments from the guests" or is there a section in a network meeting entitled "60 second self introductions". These clues help you prepare beforehand for the possibility that you may be asked to speak. Make sure you get the agenda before hand, or speak to someone who has been to this meeting or function beforehand.
Make sure you are well read, try and keep up with the latest news and current affairs. Have an opinion on most things and examine in your mind what drew you to this position. They say that if you read a different book every week for 2 years, on the same or related topic, you will become a world expert on that topic by the end of the 2 years. I am not suggesting that you do this, but it certainly demonstrates the value of being well read.
How to Respond Off The Cuff
When answering a question off the cuff, always look at what you know and see if you can draw any conclusion or response from that information. When you are asked to give an impromptu response or speech without notice, I always follow the following formulae:
Appear to be confident, don't be rushed, try to emulate how the confident person would react. Make sure you understand the question and make sure you answer it. For clarity you can ask that the question be repeated. Pause to be able to think. You can:-
• Restate the question.
• Think about the question as you are rising and stepping behind your chair or moving to the lectern or taking the microphone.
• Respond by saying "that's a very good question".
• Recognise it's relevance or appropriateness or lack thereof.
• When stuck for words use: "that reminds me of",
Organise your thoughts. Take a moment to determine your answer ie the main point of your answer, then support this view with 2 or 3 reasons.
Structure the response as you would a mini-speechie by having an Opening, Body & Closing.
Have a strong closing. Your conclusion should still be strong and reiterate your take home message or your position.
Peter Dhu: link
Subject: Public Speaking Seminars