http://www.bragar.net/18-speech-topics-how-to-deal-with-a-fear-of-giving-a-speech/ How to Prepare and Give a Speech Fri, 26 Mar 2010 15:20:23 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://www.bragar.net/18-speech-topics-how-to-deal-with-a-fear-of-giving-a-speech/comment-page-1/#comment-913 Jenna Fri, 11 Apr 2008 17:58:46 +0000 http://www.bragar.net/18-speech-topics-how-to-deal-with-a-fear-of-giving-a-speech/#comment-913 I have a HUGE fear or public speaking. I am typically alright to start out with and then all of a sudden, I just freeze up. My mind goes completely blank. You gave some excellent tips and I can assure you, I will be trying them all out! Thanks for sharing! I have a HUGE fear or public speaking. I am typically alright to start out with and then all of a sudden, I just freeze up. My mind goes completely blank. You gave some excellent tips and I can assure you, I will be trying them all out! Thanks for sharing!

]]> http://www.bragar.net/18-speech-topics-how-to-deal-with-a-fear-of-giving-a-speech/comment-page-1/#comment-504 Russell Thu, 27 Mar 2008 05:19:13 +0000 http://www.bragar.net/18-speech-topics-how-to-deal-with-a-fear-of-giving-a-speech/#comment-504 Right on. I am a member of toastmasters, and all of these tips are helpful. If I may add one thing, PRACTICE. I find that if I have my content written at least a few days in advance, and can practice it at least a half hour a day for three days or more that I am much more comfortable. Right on. I am a member of toastmasters, and all of these tips are helpful. If I may add one thing, PRACTICE. I find that if I have my content written at least a few days in advance, and can practice it at least a half hour a day for three days or more that I am much more comfortable.

]]> http://www.bragar.net/18-speech-topics-how-to-deal-with-a-fear-of-giving-a-speech/comment-page-1/#comment-493 Alexa Ronngren Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:22:12 +0000 http://www.bragar.net/18-speech-topics-how-to-deal-with-a-fear-of-giving-a-speech/#comment-493 Good advice. I would like to add two things to your list. First, know your audience! I'm in the book proposal stages of my book Global Guerrilla Marketing. So, I wanted to test drive the chapter "Crossing Cultural Barriers for Profitability." As I'm spending a little time in Vietnam, I booked a speech at one of the foreign-Vietnam chambers of commerce. On the day of the speech, I got there early and mingled with the audience. I was expecting small business entrepreneurs who want to learn more about marketing across cultures. Instead, I get 20 year marketing veterans who've worked in various countries. The section of my speech specifically on culture and how to overcome the barriers was old news to them. But even worse, I preempted that with an overview of the basics of international marketing - can you say "yawn"? As I walk up to the podium, my mind is racing, "how can I adjust the speech on the fly?" They hand me the microphone and I completely choke – never mind that I used to be a speech scholarship student (many years ago). Never mind that I knew my subject backwards and forwards. My second suggestion is to have a back-up plan! I had great deal of knowledge and information that might have been of value to this audience. But it was all over the place. I didn't have it all compiled into a nice presentation – or even one folder. If I did, I could have easily switched over with confidence. After my initial panic, I got into my speech and tried to tie in some of the items I discussed with audience members before the event. In the end, this was a great lesson for me. In addition to needing to re-sharpen my speaking skills, I realized that the people attracted to my book may not be the audience I was expecting! Good advice. I would like to add two things to your list. First, know your audience! I’m in the book proposal stages of my book Global Guerrilla Marketing. So, I wanted to test drive the chapter “Crossing Cultural Barriers for Profitability.” As I’m spending a little time in Vietnam, I booked a speech at one of the foreign-Vietnam chambers of commerce. On the day of the speech, I got there early and mingled with the audience. I was expecting small business entrepreneurs who want to learn more about marketing across cultures. Instead, I get 20 year marketing veterans who’ve worked in various countries. The section of my speech specifically on culture and how to overcome the barriers was old news to them. But even worse, I preempted that with an overview of the basics of international marketing – can you say “yawn”? As I walk up to the podium, my mind is racing, “how can I adjust the speech on the fly?” They hand me the microphone and I completely choke – never mind that I used to be a speech scholarship student (many years ago). Never mind that I knew my subject backwards and forwards. My second suggestion is to have a back-up plan! I had great deal of knowledge and information that might have been of value to this audience. But it was all over the place. I didn’t have it all compiled into a nice presentation – or even one folder. If I did, I could have easily switched over with confidence. After my initial panic, I got into my speech and tried to tie in some of the items I discussed with audience members before the event. In the end, this was a great lesson for me. In addition to needing to re-sharpen my speaking skills, I realized that the people attracted to my book may not be the audience I was expecting!

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