In this episode of Actionable Marketing In Minutes we give some quick tips and ideas for giving better public presentations.

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Problem:

Lasswell’s model of communication details 5 basic elements of public speaking. I’ll illustrate those elements in this one sentence: who says what in which channel to whom with what effect? The purpose could be to transmit information, tell a story or to motivate others to act.

It is believed that 70% of people make a living with some sort of public speaking. Unfortunately, a whopping 90% of people experience a level or degree of stage fright. In fact, the National Institutes of Mental Health report that 75% rate the fear of public speaking as their number one fear.

It’s a good thing many clubs exist to help overcome fears and to develop public speaking skills. A few such clubs include, National Speakers Association, Rostrum, Toastmasters International, Association of Speakers Clubs (ASC), Speaking Circles, and POWERtalk International.

These groups are great, but, there’s no shortage of online and printed materials whose purpose it is to develop better speaking and presentation skills.

Solution:

Today, I’d like to share some thoughts that will help you with your next presentation.

* The best way to manage stage fright is by paying attention to others’ experience; not on your own anxiety.

* Keep in mind, your audience will pick up on your easiness – or your tenseness – and will respond in kind.

* One way to be at ease is to use material you’re comfortable with. Staying within your comfort zone will help you remain calm and maintain audience awareness.

* Stay responsive to the audience. This will require a level of flexibility so that you can adapt based on the audiences’ level of engagement.

* Finally, keep this in mind: your performance is only one part of your audience’s day. By keeping everything in perspective, you will realize that you are not their entire focus.

For your presentation to be a hit, be sure to:

* Know your topic.

* Get organized.

* Practice, and then practice some more.

* Visualize your success.

* Do some deep breathing.

Benefits:

When all is said, and done, give yourself a pat on the back. Recognize your success. And remember, there is no such thing as failure – only opportunities to improve your skills.

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Join us for an upcoming episode as we discuss Using Google Studio for ease of reporting.