Six Minutes is dedicated to helping you become a more effective speaker and communicator.
One way to realize this goal is to offer not just one opinion and one voice, but the advice and opinions of the larger public speaking community. Last week’s excellent article on how to get into professional speaking from guest author Jane Atkinson is a great example.
Therefore, I would like to invite you to write an article for Six Minutes.
Proper preparation prevents presentation predicaments!
Speech preparation is the most important element to a successful presentation, and also the best way to reduce nervousness and combat fear.
The Speech Preparation Series is a series of articles examining each of the six steps which are necessary to properly prepare for a speech.
These steps are briefly introduced here, and investigated in more depth in later articles:
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if simply making a New Year’s resolution guaranteed success?
Lose weight. Pay off debt. Quit smoking.
Easy, right? No, not really.
Most resolutions fail because they are wishes, not goals. Often, the best way to achieve a long-term goal is to focus on the supporting habits. For example:
| Resolution | Supporting Habits |
|---|---|
| Lose weight | improve nutrition, drink water, exercise regularly, get consistent sleep |
| Pay off debt | use cash instead of credit, supplement your income, “pay yourself first” |
| Quit smoking | use “the patch”, chew gum, reduce stress, find a buddy |
By focusing on the supporting habits (and keeping the end goal in mind, of course), we put ourselves in an excellent position to succeed. The same strategy applies to all other New Year’s resolutions, including another popular one: becoming a better public speaker.
Eric Feng on the Public Speaking Blog recently posted 250 Things You Wish You Know That Will Guarantee Your Speaking Success. I’m skeptical when I read phrases such as “guarantee your speaking success”, and I’m even more skeptical now that I’ve read through all 250 things.
Want to learn how to execute a great Q&A session? Watch Toastmasters International President Chris Ford.
Last weekend, I attended an educational seminar led by Chris Ford. He was masterful in how effectively he encouraged audience participation.
Inspired by 25 Skills Every Man Should Know, I pondered a list of the 25 essential skills every public speaker should have. How did I do?
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