Make a difference when you are speaking

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

After you speak, your audience should either love you or hate you. You audience should have walked out the room inspired or depressed. But if you leave the audience indifferent then you probably have not done a good job.

- Francis Kong

(Final) Effective Communications Tip#9

WALK THE TALK

You are the medium and the medium is the message. THE MESSAGE MUST BE RIGHT BUT THE MESSENGER MUST BE RIGHTEOUS!!! For your talk to be believable, you must first be believable. Have you ever encountered a speaker or a trainer who say one thing but actually does something else?

- Francis Kong

Here are the top comments:
A righteous man is one who knows the struggle of consciously making an effort to do things in accordance to moral conventions and law and keeps himself on track in every way. A speaker is meant not to be measured based on righteousness but in character. And character is not something you can measure. So if a speaker does the otherwise of what he is saying, help him instead of branding him "unrighteous". - Unbiased

How to be effective in preaching?

Spread them around. Don't keep them. Some things you keep some things you share but when you share you never lose it, you are always blessed with more.
Many of my audiences wonder why and how I am so passionate with what I do especially in training and in speaking. I thought about this and the best answer I can think of is this: (would be very helpful for you too….)
I don't practice what I preach. I actually preach what I practice; but by the grace of God. This way I don't need a lot of memory work and it comes with the benefit of conviction too.

- Francis Kong

Simple ways to improve on your speech and presentation

These are simple ways you can employ to improve on your speech and presentations:

1. Maintain visual contact with your audience. (A smile diffuses tension).
2. Do not hide behind the podium.
3. DO NOT READ FROM THE POWERPOINT!
4. Be prepared for sudden interruptions.
5. Stick to your allotted time.
6. Apply the power of humor. (Green jokes cheapen)
7. Use pertinent illustrations, quotes and quotations.
8. Master the use of the microphone.
9. Learn volume control.

Just plain be nice and remember, it's not about you it's all about your audience.

- Francis Kong

Lesson Learned: Keep yourself connected with your audience. Apply humor. Speak with clarity and volume.

What kind of clothes do I wear before my presentation?

It is highly advisable NOT to wear brown colors when you do a presentation. Brown color and tones represent earth colors and would indicate a laid back, care-free in other words, a sort of "lazy-not-to-be-taken-seriously look. And so I stay away from this color tone when doing presentations. Black of course expresses authority. Red represents speed, fiery passion (sports car....) Here is the deal. You should be wearing just one notch higher than what the audience would be wearing. Too far apart and you lose connection. Choose to dress well because this is a show of respect for your audience but don't dress too stiff and too formal if your audience is not.

- Francis Kong

Lesson Learned: Pick your clothes before presentation. Don't just pick the best clothes in your closet, have a logical explanation why you're wearing that outfit.

How to prepare before your speaking engagement?

A lot of public speaking begins even before you begin to speak. The key word for today is STUDY. Go the venue early. At least 30 minutes early.

1. Study the stage. Know the colour of the background.
There was one time when the stage background was exactly the same color and tone of my suit and shirt and from afar I looked like a ghost moving from one place to another.
2. The location of the lectern.
3. The kind of sound system that will be used.
4. Know the allotted time given you.
5. The kind of microphone you will be using.

For a smaller audience, even the colour of the clothes you wear would give out subtle impressions on the audience.
- Francis Kong

Lesson Learned: Watch your words. Speak and think only of positivity and inspiration.

Learn to say words that encourage

Since we are in the subject matter of public speaking, let this be a reminder for the week: Always say words that would encourage and would inspire, do not let corrupt communications come out of your mouth. Words may heal and words may hurt. Sadly, we are exposed to more hurting words than healing words. Some more tips tomorrow morning before I go out of town for a two-day leadership seminar workshop.
- Francis Kong

Lesson Learned: Watch your words. Speak and think only of positivity and inspiration.