4. Methods for improving yourMethods for improving your
voice:voice:
ListenListen to it!to it! PracticePractice
listeninglistening to your voiceto your voice
while at home, driving,while at home, driving,
walking, etc. Then whenwalking, etc. Then when
you are at work or withyou are at work or with
company,company, monitor yourmonitor your
voicevoice to see if you areto see if you are
using it how you want to.using it how you want to.
5. •To really listen to your voice, cup yourTo really listen to your voice, cup your
right hand around your right ear andright hand around your right ear and
gently pull the ear forward. Next, cupgently pull the ear forward. Next, cup
your left hand around your mouth andyour left hand around your mouth and
direct the sound straight into your ear.direct the sound straight into your ear.
This helps you to really hear your voiceThis helps you to really hear your voice
as others hear it...and it might beas others hear it...and it might be
completely different from the voice youcompletely different from the voice you
thought it was! Now practice moderatingthought it was! Now practice moderating
your voice.your voice.
6. The Body LanguageThe Body Language
Eye contactEye contact
FacialFacial
ExpressionsExpressions
GesturesGestures
Posture and bodyPosture and body
orientationorientation
ProximityProximity
VoiceVoice (Rise & Fall)(Rise & Fall)
7. Active ListeningActive Listening
Good speakers not onlyGood speakers not only
inform their audience, theyinform their audience, they
also listen to them. Byalso listen to them. By
listening, you know if theylistening, you know if they
understand the informationunderstand the information
and if the information isand if the information is
important to them.important to them.
8. Some good traits of effectiveSome good traits of effective
listeners are:listeners are:
Spend more time listening than talking (butSpend more time listening than talking (but
of course, as a presenter, you will be doingof course, as a presenter, you will be doing
most of the talking).most of the talking).
Do not finish the sentence of others.Do not finish the sentence of others.
Do not answer questions with questions.Do not answer questions with questions.
Aware of biases. We all have them. WeAware of biases. We all have them. We
need to control them.need to control them.
Never daydream or become preoccupiedNever daydream or become preoccupied
with their own thoughts when others talk.with their own thoughts when others talk.
9. •Let the other speaker talk. Do not dominateLet the other speaker talk. Do not dominate
the conversation.the conversation.
•Plan responses after others have finishedPlan responses after others have finished
speaking...NOT while they are speaking.speaking...NOT while they are speaking.
Their full concentration is on what others areTheir full concentration is on what others are
saying, not on what they are going to respondsaying, not on what they are going to respond
with.with.
•Provide feedback but do not interruptProvide feedback but do not interrupt
incessantly.incessantly.
•Analyze by looking at all the relevant factorsAnalyze by looking at all the relevant factors
and asking open-ended questions. Walk theand asking open-ended questions. Walk the
person through analysis (summarize).person through analysis (summarize).
•Keep the conversation on what the speakerKeep the conversation on what the speaker
10. Five Main Categories of FeedbackFive Main Categories of Feedback
Evaluative:Evaluative: Makes a judgment about the worth,Makes a judgment about the worth,
goodness, or appropriateness of the othergoodness, or appropriateness of the other
person's statement.person's statement.
Interpretive:Interpretive: Paraphrasing - attempt to explainParaphrasing - attempt to explain
what the other persons statement mean.what the other persons statement mean.
Supportive:Supportive: Attempt to assist or bolster theAttempt to assist or bolster the
other communicatorother communicator
Probing:Probing: Attempt to gain additional information,Attempt to gain additional information,
continue the discussion, or clarify a point.continue the discussion, or clarify a point.
Understanding:Understanding: Attempt to discover completelyAttempt to discover completely
what the other communicator means by his/herwhat the other communicator means by his/her
statements.statements.
11. Do not fightDo not fight NervesNerves, welcome, welcome
them!them!
The main enemy of a presenter isThe main enemy of a presenter is
tension, which ruins the voice,tension, which ruins the voice,
posture, and spontaneity. Theposture, and spontaneity. The
voice becomes higher as thevoice becomes higher as the
throat tenses. Shoulders tightenthroat tenses. Shoulders tighten
up and limit flexibility while theup and limit flexibility while the
legs start to shake and causelegs start to shake and cause
unsteadiness. The presentationunsteadiness. The presentation
becomes "canned" as thebecomes "canned" as the
speaker locks in on the notes andspeaker locks in on the notes and
starts to read directly from them.starts to read directly from them.
12. Tension can be reduced by performingTension can be reduced by performing
some relaxation exercises. Listed belowsome relaxation exercises. Listed below
are a couple to get you started:are a couple to get you started:
Mental Visualization:Mental Visualization: Before the presentation,Before the presentation,
visualize the room, audience, and you giving thevisualize the room, audience, and you giving the
presentation. Mentally go over what you are goingpresentation. Mentally go over what you are going
to do from the moment you start to the end of theto do from the moment you start to the end of the
presentation.presentation.
During the presentationDuring the presentation :: Take a moment toTake a moment to
yourself by getting a drink of water, take a deepyourself by getting a drink of water, take a deep
breath, concentrate on relaxing the most tensebreath, concentrate on relaxing the most tense
part of your body, and then return to thepart of your body, and then return to the
presentation saying to your self,presentation saying to your self, "I can do it!""I can do it!"
13. You doYou do NOTNOT need to get rid ofneed to get rid of
anxietyanxiety andand tensiontension! Channel! Channel
the energy into concentrationthe energy into concentration
and expressiveness.and expressiveness.
Know that anxiety and tensionKnow that anxiety and tension
is not asis not as noticeablenoticeable to theto the
audienceaudience as it is to youas it is to you..
14. •Know that evenKnow that even the bestthe best
presenters make mistakespresenters make mistakes .. TheThe
key is to continue on after thekey is to continue on after the
mistakemistake. If you pick up and. If you pick up and
continue, so will the audience.continue, so will the audience.
Winners continue! Losers stop!Winners continue! Losers stop!
15. QuestionsQuestions
Keep cool if aKeep cool if a
questioner disagreesquestioner disagrees
with you. You are awith you. You are a
professional! Noprofessional! No
matter how hard youmatter how hard you
try, not everyone intry, not everyone in
the world will agreethe world will agree
with you!with you!
16. Always allow time at the end of theAlways allow time at the end of the
presentation for questions. Afterpresentation for questions. After
inviting questions, do not rushinviting questions, do not rush
ahead if no one asks a question.ahead if no one asks a question.
Pause for about 6 seconds to allowPause for about 6 seconds to allow
the audience to gather theirthe audience to gather their
thoughts. When a question isthoughts. When a question is
asked, repeat the question toasked, repeat the question to
ensure that everyone heard itensure that everyone heard it
17. When answering, directWhen answering, direct
your remarks to the entireyour remarks to the entire
audience. That way, youaudience. That way, you
keep everyone focused, notkeep everyone focused, not
just the questioner. Tojust the questioner. To
reinforce yourreinforce your
presentation, try to relatepresentation, try to relate
the question back to thethe question back to the
18. Do not over runDo not over run!!
Finish WithinFinish Within
TimeTime
