7 Jan Speak With Confidence Tips
Tip #1: Consider your use of contractions
If you want to polish and add gravitas to your speaking style, it’s time to reconsider your use of contractions. The words below can be a good start to set a formal tone and an excellent approach to elevate your messaging.
aren’t → are not;
there’s → there is;
can’t → cannot;
they’d → they had;
couldn’t → could not;
they’ll → they will;
didn’t → did not;
they’re → they are
Not every situation calls for formality, but there are some situations where being well-spoken or more formal may benefit you—negotiating a contract, sharing a presentation with C-level leaders, delivering serious news, or influencing others.
Tip #2: Prepare quick opening and closing remarks for your meetings
In a recent coaching session last week, a client (let’s call her Mary), the Founder of her company, expressed frustration. During bigger events such as offsite sales meetings or team events, the last speaker often turns to her and says on the mic, “Mary, any final thoughts?” Mary, as an introvert (and taken by surprise), tends to respond with a simple “Nope, all set!”
For event hosts (CEOs, heads of IR, Founders), preparing both opening and closing remarks can be incredibly beneficial even if you are not officially scheduled to speak at those times. These moments are a valuable opportunity to conclude events meaningfully, express gratitude and build trust.
Here are some examples to consider:
- Short and sweet closing remark: “If you have any follow-up questions, please drop by my office next week. As a token of appreciation for your time, treats and swag bags are in the hallway. Help yourself on your way out! Thank you.”
- More elaborate closing remark: “Before we depart, I want to thank everyone who participated this week. Your presence made this event a huge success! A special acknowledgment to our XXX team for their outstanding efforts in organizing everything from XXX to XXX. Their dedication was pivotal to the success of our Fourth Annual XXX. Let’s show our gratitude for their hard work!”
Seize these moments to conclude your gatherings on a high note and leave a lasting, positive impression.
Tip #3: Practice for a ballroom-setting presentation in front of a busy storefront
It’s a busy time of year as we coach speakers for Fall Annual Global Meetings in Private Equity and Financial Services. In a coaching session earlier this week, a client had the (accidental) opportunity to practice their ten-minute presentation in a glass-walled boardroom, with at least 15 folks walking through the halls at 3 p.m., hunting for snacks and caffeine. This made me extremely happy because if you can stay laser-focused in a chaotic environment when you practice, you’ll feel the same sense of calm and control in a hotel ballroom, with all the people typing, eating, getting up to go to the bathroom, whispering, laptop notifications dinging, etc.
To replicate a busy ballroom environment, you can go to a place like a storefront or shopping center and say your presentation out loud. (You can slip in earbuds if you want to look like you are talking to someone!) Can you stay focused on your content despite the sirens, crying babies, and bustling people? People who have ADHD or are Neurodivergent (Autism Spectrum, etc.) could also significantly benefit from this type of practice. The more important the presentation, the more rigorous your preparation should be.
Tip #4: Use transition phrases to add content fluidity
As you change slides or topics during a presentation, you might find yourself saying things like:
- So yeah, anyway
- Um, ok next slide
- Sorry, that was a lot of info; moving on…
Instead, memorize a few transition phrases to add polish, such as:
- From an overall perspective on…
- I’d like to walk you through…
- In our conversations on the importance of…
Here’s a great quote to motivate you:
“When you are not practicing, someone else is getting better.” – Allen Iverson
15 Jul How to Motivate Others
Become a more trusted and effective leader!
In this 30-minute recorded lesson, you will learn the difference between inspiration and motivation. We will introduce six proven strategies and show you the unique Motivation Matrixthat you can put to use immediately to motivate anyone.
Watch it now: https://speechimprovement.com/motivating-others-webinar-video/
31 May MassBioEd Course: Presenting with Persuasion, Clarity & Strength
Join Robin Golinski, Executive Communication Coach and our partner, MassBioEd on June 13, 2024 from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Presenting with Persuasion, Clarity & Strength provides professionals with key skills to comfortably speak in a clear and confident manner. Whether presenting internally or externally, telling your story effectively, delivering meaningful messages, being persuasive, and speaking confidently in a variety of settings takes skill development and practice. The course is taught with role-playing and exercises.
“I learned that non-verbal aspects when speaking were very important to be aware of. Most of the time, people do not know they are ‘presenting’ before actually speaking.” – Attendee, September 2021
Topics
- Sharing Communication Challenges
- Understanding the Listener’s Needs
- Understanding the Communication Environment
- Identifying Theme
- Being Persuasive
- Using Notes & Visual Aids
- Best Practices for Presenting Virtually
- Handling Questions
- Practice Strategies
- Deliver a Presentation to the Group
MassBio Member Rate: $850
Non Member Rate: $970
To register: https://massbioed.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/massbioed/eventRegistration.jsp?event=1596&
30 May Answering Challenging Questions on Your Feet (30 min recorded lesson)
Watch our free, 30-minute recorded lesson
When at work, questions are continuously being tossed out to us. At times,
We don’t know the answer and feel like we should.
We can’t answer the question.
We don’t have a good answer.
We know the question will cause conflict if we choose to answer it.
Anticipating questions can create anxiety, stress, and loss of productivity. There is a way to prepare for these questions so you feel more confident through giving information to others. In this 30-minute lesson, we focus on real-world skills and give you the tools so you can be on top of your game when these challenging questions arise at work.
Join Robin Golinski, Executive Communication Coach for an entertaining and informative, free 30-minute recorded session.
5 Jan Controlling Nervousness Before Speaking – 30-minute Recorded Webinar
Whether you call it ’nervousness” or “anxiety’ or “fear of speaking,” it is a widespread experience for many people worldwide; you are not alone. The good news is that it can be controlled. In this 30-minute recording, we discuss the ‘real causes’ of this experience and some tools and techniques to control the nervousness.
7 Mar Thinking on Your Feet
Thinking on your feet, also known as being quick-witted or spontaneous, is important in many situations, such as public speaking, negotiations, impromptu speeches, or spontaneous debates. Here are some tips to help you develop your ability to think on your feet:
- Be Prepared: Preparation is vital to success. The more you know about a topic, the more equipped you are to handle unexpected questions or challenges. Read up on current events and familiarize yourself with key facts and figures related to your area of expertise. Be open to learning, unlearning, and relearning.
- Practice Active Listening: Pay close attention to what others are saying, and respond thoughtfully and deliberately. Listen to understand, not to give a response or argue. Avoid interrupting others, and try to understand their point of view before responding.
- Stay Calm: When under pressure, it can be easy to become disoriented, flustered, or intimidated. However, the ability to remain calm and focused is imperative to being able to think on your feet. Take a deep breath and remind yourself that you are well prepared.
- Be Confident: Confidence is a critical component of thinking on your feet. Believe in yourself and your ability to handle whatever comes your way. Try to project a sense of self-assurance, even if you are feeling nervous.
- Use Humor: Humor is a powerful tool for disarming tense situations and keeping the conversation light. Use humor to answer difficult questions, diffuse escalations or complex situations, and keep the audience engaged and focused.
- Stay Flexible: Be prepared to pivot and change direction when necessary. Be open to new ideas and perspectives, and be willing to adjust your approach if the situation warrants it.
- Stay Focused: Avoid diverting or bogged down on irrelevant details. Stay focused on the main topic and avoid getting sidetracked by tangential issues.
- Keep it Simple: When thinking on your feet, it’s essential to keep your responses clear, concise, and easy to understand. Avoid using jargon or complex language, and try to make your points in a way that is easy for others to comprehend.
In conclusion, thinking on your feet requires a combination of preparation, active listening, confidence, humor, flexibility, focus, and simplicity. With practice and persistence, you can develop these skills and become a confident, quick-witted communicator.