How to get better communication skills

[joyselyn]

Hello,
I work at a marketing firm where presentation skills are required.
Meetings occur frequently and I need to speak freely and confident infront of people. There is no place for anxiety and nervousness which I totally get, but of course cannot fake. This is something I want to work on, and wondering if you guys can recommend any online resources or real life training you have done and like? Thanks!

Otherwise it's all good! Thanks for the help.

Anton

 

[John Doe]

Learn to talk much gooder.

 

[Sean]

Hello,
I work at a marketing firm where presentation skills are required.
Meetings occur frequently and I need to speak freely and confidently in front of people. There is no place for anxiety and nervousness which I totally get, but of course cannot fake. This is something I want to work on, and wondering if you guys can recommend any online resources or real life training you have done and like? Thanks!

Otherwise it's all good! Thanks for the help.

Anton

There you go. YW.

 

[oggbashan]

1. Write down what you want to say and then read it aloud, preferably to a friend. That way you'll find out what doesn't work, what does work, and what could be said better. Practise reading it - then throw the script away.

2. Draft your speech as if PowerPoint hadn't been invented. Explain everything in words. PowerPoint is an aid, not the message.

3. Tell the audience what you are going to say, then tell them in detail with examples, and finish by telling them what you have said.

4. Last, and never least - Know what you are talking about.

 

[Soulen]

1. Write down what you want to say and then read it aloud, preferably to a friend. That way you'll find out what doesn't work, what does work, and what could be said better. Practise reading it - then throw the script away.

2. Draft your speech as if PowerPoint hadn't been invented. Explain everything in words. PowerPoint is an aid, not the message.

3. Tell the audience what you are going to say, then tell them in detail with examples, and finish by telling them what you have said.

4. Last, and never least - Know what you are talking about.

nailed it.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

1. Write down what you want to say and then read it aloud, preferably to a friend. That way you'll find out what doesn't work, what does work, and what could be said better. Practise reading it - then throw the script away.

2. Draft your speech as if PowerPoint hadn't been invented. Explain everything in words. PowerPoint is an aid, not the message.

3. Tell the audience what you are going to say, then tell them in detail with examples, and finish by telling them what you have said.

4. Last, and never least - Know what you are talking about.

Good! I like to anticipate objections and skepticism, and neutralize both as I go along.

 

[ziti_the_noodle]

http://blog.timesunion.com/amanda/files/2010/09/audience.jpg

-ziti

 

[piccicatopolka]

Think of something else you're really good at like training orcas and handle the marketing situation as you would the other thing. (please don't throw fish)

Before you begin, visualize the positive outcome like your promotion.

After you picture them all naked act like you're the queen of the world.

No one knows what you're going to say but you.

You are in total control of those moments and gosh darn it, you like yourself.

 

[OzoneRed]

Hello,
I work at a marketing firm where presentation skills are required.
Meetings occur frequently and I need to speak freely and confident infront of people. There is no place for anxiety and nervousness which I totally get, but of course cannot fake. This is something I want to work on, and wondering if you guys can recommend any online resources or real life training you have done and like? Thanks!

Otherwise it's all good! Thanks for the help.

Anton

I've found that a few shots of Jack Daniels does remarkable things for my presentation skills.

 

[JohnnySavage]

Hello,
I work at a marketing firm where presentation skills are required.
Meetings occur frequently and I need to speak freely and confident infront of people. There is no place for anxiety and nervousness which I totally get, but of course cannot fake. This is something I want to work on, and wondering if you guys can recommend any online resources or real life training you have done and like? Thanks!

Otherwise it's all good! Thanks for the help.

Anton

Whether it's true or not, convince yourself you are smarter than everyone listening to you.

 

[Colonel Hogan]

Toastmasters.

The whole point is to practice speaking in front of other people. Might as well do it with a supportive group of folks who are suffering the same anxiety as you are.

 

[Sonny Limatina]

Toastmasters.

The whole point is to practice speaking in front of other people. Might as well do it with a supportive group of folks who are suffering the same anxiety as you are.

I have friends who swear by it. But I've also heard--or maybe just perceived--that there's a Forum/EST-ish component to it as well. Is that your understanding?

 

[bronzeage]

Hello,
I work at a marketing firm where presentation skills are required.
Meetings occur frequently and I need to speak freely and confident infront of people. There is no place for anxiety and nervousness which I totally get, but of course cannot fake. This is something I want to work on, and wondering if you guys can recommend any online resources or real life training you have done and like? Thanks!

Otherwise it's all good! Thanks for the help.

Anton

Decide whether you are going as Anton pr Joyselyn and wear appropriate underwear.

 

[renard_ruse]

Hello,
I work at a marketing firm where presentation skills are required.
Meetings occur frequently and I need to speak freely and confident infront of people. There is no place for anxiety and nervousness which I totally get, but of course cannot fake. This is something I want to work on, and wondering if you guys can recommend any online resources or real life training you have done and like? Thanks!

Otherwise it's all good! Thanks for the help.

Anton

A small flask of vodka in your desk drawer is a good start. A few swigs before your meeting and you'll knock em dead.

 

[piccicatopolka]

Yeah... with her breath!

 

[Ishmael]

1. Write down what you want to say and then read it aloud, preferably to a friend. That way you'll find out what doesn't work, what does work, and what could be said better. Practise reading it - then throw the script away.

2. Draft your speech as if PowerPoint hadn't been invented. Explain everything in words. PowerPoint is an aid, not the message.

3. Tell the audience what you are going to say, then tell them in detail with examples, and finish by telling them what you have said.

4. Last, and never least - Know what you are talking about.

Toastmasters.

The whole point is to practice speaking in front of other people. Might as well do it with a supportive group of folks who are suffering the same anxiety as you are.

There ya go. Practice, practice, practice. If you continue to suffer from stage fright, find a new career.

Ishmael

 

[KRCummings]

Maybe you should have thought of this before you started working there.
And there's nothing to it. All the tricks people tell you to use may or may not work but even when they do it's usually just a one-shot deal.
The only way to be good at it is to simply not give a flying rat fuck what other people think. The whole reason people hate speaking in public is because they're afraid of what others think. Stop giving a shit. No reason to give a shit anyway. They're gonna think the same thing whether you're talking or not.

 

[renard_ruse]

Maybe you should have thought of this before you started working there.
And there's nothing to it. All the tricks people tell you to use may or may not work but even when they do it's usually just a one-shot deal.
The only way to be good at it is to simply not give a flying rat fuck what other people think. The whole reason people hate speaking in public is because they're afraid of what others think. Stop giving a shit. No reason to give a shit anyway. They're gonna think the same thing whether you're talking or not.

My mother always told us "successful people have no sense of shame." That and "its better to be a live chicken, than a dead hero." Bless her dear soul.

 

[Colonel Hogan]

I have friends who swear by it. But I've also heard--or maybe just perceived--that there's a Forum/EST-ish component to it as well. Is that your understanding?

It's a case of taking as little as you want or all you can stand. They have a huge international bureaucracy, so if you want to run for regional, district or area offices, you can go that route.

For the beginner, you get a list of 10 suggested topics for speeches. The first few are short and then they get a bit longer. Once you achieve that first level of 10 speeches, you can go on to higher levels if you want.

I served as an officer of my club and even entered a competition where I won at the local, area and district levels. The regional finals were in a hotel ballroom in front of 200 or 300 people. I came in second.

But I never advanced past my initial level of the first 10 speeches. My interest was not all that deep, and I did not want the bureaucratic crap to take over my life.

 

[KRCummings]

It's a case of taking as little as you want or all you can stand. They have a huge international bureaucracy, so if you want to run for regional, district or area offices, you can go that route.

For the beginner, you get a list of 10 suggested topics for speeches. The first few are short and then they get a bit longer. Once you achieve that first level of 10 speeches, you can go on to higher levels if you want.

I served as an officer of my club and even entered a competition where I won at the local, area and district levels. The regional finals were in a hotel ballroom in front of 200 or 300 people. I came in second.

But I never advanced past my initial level of the first 10 speeches. My interest was not all that deep, and I did not want the bureaucratic crap to take over my life.

It sounds very interesting. I never knew that much about it.

 

[Colonel Hogan]

It sounds very interesting. I never knew that much about it.

One of the things that is pretty good is they appoint a person during the weekly meetings to record the "uhs" and the "ahs" and "ums" that people use as filler words that really aren't needed and make you sound like an ignoramus major league second baseman being interviewed for the 11 o'clock news.

You're supposed to chip in a nickle or dime to the local kitty for whatever you get charged with during that meeting. I've heard of some clubs taking that WAAAAY too seriously like it was an S&M exercise. Our club kept it light and fun and had no interest in making it feel like a stigma. But it really does teach you some discipline and greatly improves one's presentation.

The key to Toastmasters is to attend several chapter meetings in your area if your city is big enough and find the group that feels most comfortable to you.

 

[LJ_Reloaded]

1. Write down what you want to say and then read it aloud, preferably to a friend. That way you'll find out what doesn't work, what does work, and what could be said better. Practise reading it - then throw the script away.

2. Draft your speech as if PowerPoint hadn't been invented. Explain everything in words. PowerPoint is an aid, not the message.

3. Tell the audience what you are going to say, then tell them in detail with examples, and finish by telling them what you have said.

4. Last, and never least - Know what you are talking about.

Sometimes that just isn't enough, and when it isn't... fuck 'em.

 

[Ishmael]

Toastmasters is a good starting point. I attended some meetings but never got deeply into what they were doing, other interests were of a higher priority.

I started with Speech in High School and thoroughly enjoyed it, did well too. Do they even have that as a course anymore?

The best course I ever took (Actually it wasn't an option) was the military's MOI (Methods of Instruction) course. It covered speech needless to say, but it also covered effective non-verbal communications as well. In many respects it started out as Toastmasters does with short, 5 min. speeches on a menu of subjects then moves up to 15 min. on subjects of choice (subject to pre-approval) and then to 40 min. on menu subjects with non-verbal tools carrying an equal weight with the verbal presentation.

I have addressed groups as large as 500+ people with no problem beyond the pre-address anticipation. It's fun once you get in the groove.

Ishmael

 

[Karen Kraft]

Learn to talk much gooder.

... and with more better gooderistics.

 

[John Doe]

... and with more better gooderistics.

...and dignitude.