Shannon's thoughts on marketing, public relations, social technology, entrepreneurship and other things

Yes, you have been there…the presentation from hell.

You discreetly tweeted #killmenow.
You yawned and hoped no one caught you.
You took copious notes, which looked a lot like a grocery list.
You made faces, rolled your eyes and exchanged smirks with equally bored co-workers.
And the same things will happen next week when YOU are giving the presentation.

Think back to the last great presentation you attended. What captivated your attention? What was memorable about it? Why could you have sat there for another hour listening to the speaker?

It’s probably because the presenter was -- repeat after me -- ENGAGING. Audiences don’t want to be spoken to or lectured at, they want be in conversation with you. This may seem like a play on words, it isn’t.

Consider how you have a good conversation: you look the person in the eye, you tell jokes or share stories, you gesture or talk with hands, your voice fluctuates and you enjoy it. The same principles hold true for good presentations.

1. Connect with your audience. Look up from your notes and at your audience. Find a few people to connect with, eye-to-eye. They won’t bite you.
Don’t cheat and stare at the back wall. It won’t positively reinforce you.

Bonus tip: have a couple of friends in the audience to give you smiles and occasional winks of encouragement

2. Invite your audience into your world. Share a funny story. Your life consists of hundreds of funny, interesting and amazing experiences…tell them. Your audience will relate.
Don’t share anything that is overly personal; religious and political stories aren’t a good idea either.

Bonus tip: go with cute stories about your children, in-laws or pets

3. Move it, move it, move it. Let your natural rhythm flow. You naturally move when you talk, holding back makes you look stiff and nervous.
Don’t fidget. Remember your movements should flow like a river, not babble like a brook.

Bonus tip: request a lavaliere (clip-on) microphone to keep your hands free and to allow for movement around the stage

4. Modulate your voice. Speak, just open your mouth and speak as you normally do. The only way for the audience to receive the message is for you to deliver it.
Don’t use your “outside voice.” The AV techs will adjust the microphone to you.

Bonus tip: do a sound check before you get on stage

5. Have fun. Breathe…inhale…exhale. The audience is on your side; they want to hear from you.
Try not to be nervous. If you’re uncomfortable, then your audience will be uncomfortable.

Bonus tip: practice, practice, practice…it makes perfect

Speaking in front of people shouldn't be painful for you or your audience.

Additional Resources:
Toastmasters International
Speech and Public Speaking, Kennesaw State University
Public Speaking Tips (video series)

Words have caused wars, swayed elections and destroyed families...why?
Words have brought about change, encouraged peace and lifted hearts...how?

When written, they are scribbles and doodles you put on a piece of paper and when spoken, they are modulations and intonations riding on your breath. Words are neither good or bad, right or wrong, supportive or destructive...they are simply words. According to Dictionary.com, a word is a "unit of language...that functions as the principal carrier of meaning."

And therein lies the crux of the matter, "meaning."

The meaning of a word, it's definition, along with, the context of its use and its etymology are part of what makes words so fascinating. There are some words in the American English language that can not be said on mainstream television because of their meaning and the context with which they are most often used. There are also words certain groups find offensive because the history of the word is so disturbing. There are words that fall out of use for various reasons, and there are new words that become part of the national vocabulary every year due to new technologies or the blending of cultures.

So what's the big deal with words, why are some people seemingly so obsessed with them? Why do writer's anguish for hours over just the right word in a sentence? Why do communication professionals go back-and-forth with colleagues over articles, conjunctions and prepositions in copy?

It all has to do with "meaning," not the word's definition. The word's ultimate meaning has more to do with the reader's and hearer's perceptions than you may think. Consider this example from a fundraising appeal.

We invite you to become a production underwriter...
We invite you to become a co-owner of a production...

Both sentences are clearly asking donors for money; however, the second one has a different meaning. When you own something, it is yours; you have a right to change or alter it, build it up or tear it down, keep it or sell it and so forth. For instance, stock owners have a say in how a company is run; car owners can determine its color and home owners can make decisions about the dwelling. Is this what the writer really wanted to convey? Did the writer really want contributors to have a say in the production?

Yes, words matter...choose wisely.

The seven worst words to utter in business: this is how we've always done it...blah, blah, blah.

There are a number of plausible explanations for saying them.

• "It" worked in the past. There is a record of success by doing "it" this way. 
• People don't respond well to change. This is how the clients and the bosses like "it." 
• There aren't enough resources to come up with or implement new ways for doing "it."
• There is a lack of enthusiasm, energy and moral for doing "it" in the first place.

Those excuses may have sufficed at one time, but not anymore. Organizations and stakeholders are looking for, and have come to expect, innovative thinking, out-of-the-box ideas and no-holds-barred solutions. Doing "it" as you always have just won't work anymore. As the saying goes, nothing ventured, nothing gained…now is the time to take a risk and push “it” to the next level.

1. Get motivated. This is an opportunity for you to learn something new, do something different and make a difference in your organization. 


2. Build a team. Take this occasion to work with different people in the organization; new people bring new energy, new perspectives and new ideas. 


3. Pace yourself. Use this moment to make one or two distinctive incremental changes, instead of rebuilding “it” from the ground up. 


4. Seek counsel. The people who’ve done “it” for the last several years have the wisdom of experience and lessons learned; they are your allies. 


5. Keep smiling. “It” has been done the same way for seemingly eons, some people may not understand, be comfortable or want “it” to change. Remember, in the end, adjusting “it” is for the betterment of the entire organization.

Take "it" on with gusto and make it yours!