by Bill Stainton We hear it all the time: if you want to get the big bucks, you’ve got to use humor in your presentations. Even if you’re not in it for the money-humor definitely helps you to get your point across. There’s no question that if you give presentations in front of an audience, humor should be one of …
The Best Practical Tips for Overcoming Stage Fright
by Chris Widener As one who does some speech coaching, I have heard all of the crazy ideas on how to conquer stage fright, but I think in more basic ideas. Actually, just a few. Here they are: 1. Know your stuff! The best thing you can do is to be overwhelmingly, thoroughly, and completely prepared and …
How To Get Full Value From Your Speaker
by Jim Cathcart, CSP, CPAE If your speaker truly is a valuable resource and you’ve gone to all this trouble to get him/her ready to do a proper job for you, then perhaps there are several ways to utilize the speakers’ resources on the day of his/her appearance. In 20+ years of speaking before more than 2,000 audiences I’ve encountered …
Be a Better Speaker
by Chris Widener At one point or another, those of us in business are called upon to do some public speaking. The way we present ourselves is important because it is representative of who we are, our competencies, and how people will view our businesses. In doing speech-coaching I find that most people are initially concerned with adding things to …
Linking Your Stories to Your Message
by Bill Stainton There are many compelling reasons to use humorous stories in your presentations. They make you more likeable, they make you more memorable, they help you generate higher fees, etc. But as far as your audience is concerned, there is only one reason: you use humorous stories to further your point! That’s it! You’re not using them to …
Stainton’s 10 Commandments of Humor
by Bill Stainton 1. Thou shalt target thy audience This is the first and great commandment! You must know who your audience is, and choose your humor appropriately. This doesn’t mean just knowing who the group is, or even who the individuals who comprise the audience are. It means understanding the occasion, knowing the back-story of the group, assessing the …
The Fear of Public Speaking is Highly Overrated
by Ross Shafer (excerpted from his book “Nobody Moved Your Cheese” Trafford Publishing) I truly think public speaking is one of the all time fastest shortcuts to success. Speaking well in public will accelerate your career at lightning speed. Look around your plant or office. Good talkers are looked upon as leaders and are getting the top money, right? Is …
Where To Find Personal Stories
by Bill Stainton If you know anything at all about me and my speaking style, you know that I am a huge, huge fan of humorous personal stories! I think they are, hands down, the best way to add humor to your speech or presentation. I like them better than jokes, funny quotes, and cartoons. Why? Because they are unique, …
The Power of Personal Stories
by Bill Stainton Most people who know me as a speaker, consultant, or coach know two things about me: 1. I love humor! 2. I hate jokes! Don’t get me wrong: I like hearing a good joke; I’m just not a big fan of their use on the platform. I think there’s a much more powerful resource for humor available …
How To Ask for Anything You Want
by Mark Victor Hansen One of life’s fundamental truths states: Ask and you shall receive. Isn’t that simple? Of course it is. The world responds to those who ask. Most people in this world, however, find themselves in settled lives, never really achieving or receiving what they hold in their dreams… because they just never ask. There are many good …