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Gilda Bonanno - EzineArticles.com Expert Author
Gilda Bonanno is a trainer, speaker and coach who helps entrepreneurs, small business owners and corporate professionals sharpen their presentation and communication skills. She combines her extensive business experience with a talent for improvisational performance and a belief that with the right training and practice, everyone can become an effective communicator.
In addition to facilitating high-energy, client-focused training programs, Gilda speaks about leadership, motivation, communication and humor to groups ranging from engineers to healthcare professionals to ... [More]
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- Cut Out Your Filler Words
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] This article explains how to cut out the filler words, like "um" and "ah," that weaken your presentation. These words just fill in space while you remember or think of something to say next. Rather than being effective bridges, they are roadblocks, distracting the audience and interrupting the flow of your message. These filler words weaken your presentation and give the impression that you don't know what you're talking about.
- Public Speaking - Don't Speak Too Little
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] One of the most common mistakes that speakers make is to go over their time limit. However, sometimes a speaker makes the opposite mistake, by not speaking long enough. A colleague recently sent me an email describing her experience with a speaker who spoke too little. Here are three things that you can do to ensure you're not the speaker who shocks and annoys the audience by speaking too little...
- Body Language - Gestures and Movement
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] When communicating, your body language (facial expressions, gestures, movement, eye contact and voice) should match your message. If there is a disconnect between what you say and your non-verbal communications, your audience will believe your non-verbals.
- Public Speaking - What Should I Do With My Hands?
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] "What do I do with my hands when I'm speaking?" is a common question that I hear when I'm teaching public speaking. Your hands form an important part of your non-verbal communication, or body language, and can help you convey confidence and communicate more effectively to your audience. Here are 5 tips for what to do with your hands...
- Voice Power in Public Speaking - Pauses, Inflection & Tone
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Your voice is a key component of non-verbal communications and has the ability to convey meaning and emotion. Yet most of us use only a small part of that vocal range. Use the following guidelines to unleash the power of your voice so you can deliver your message effectively and connect to the audience:
- Public Speaking - Body Language Mistakes - Gestures, Movement, Posture & Facial Expressions
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Non-verbal communication, or body language, is an important part of public speaking. Your body language includes your posture, movement, gestures, facial expressions, eye contact and voice. At the very least, your body language should not distract the audience and with a little practice, it can help you convey confidence and help the audience see your message more clearly. Here are the most common gesture, movement, posture and facial expression mistakes...
- Public Speaking - 5 Common Voice Mistakes
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Your voice has the ability to convey an incredible range of meaning and emotion when you present. It's an important part of your non-verbal communications, or body language, and can help you can communicate your message clearly and effectively to your audience. Avoid these five common mistakes in order to tap into the full power of your voice:
- Public Speaking - 5 Frequently Asked Questions About How to Use Eye Contact
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Here are the answers to 5 frequently asked questions about how to use eye contact when speaking. Why should I use eye contact?
- Public Speaking - Four Types of Words to Avoid When Speaking
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] When you've giving a presentation, your words can affect your ability to communicate your message to your audience. If you want to be a more effective presenter, avoid these four types of words:
- Cut Out These Cliches, Overused Expressions & Tired Words
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Is your communication full of cliches and tired old expressions? In public speaking, frequently using phrases like "you know" and "see what I mean" can be just as distracting to your listeners as frequently using filler words like "um" and "ah." These tired and overused words and phrases dilute the power of the message you are trying to convey.
- Public Speaking - Six Mistakes to Avoid When Answering Questions
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] How do you handle the questions that come up during or after your presentation? Handled effectively, questions can be an important part of your presentation, allowing you to clarify a point, expand on your ideas or provide another example. They also can demonstrate that the audience members were paying attention to you and are interested in your opinion. Here are six mistakes to AVOID to avoid when you answering questions...
- You CAN Get Better at Public Speaking
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] As a presentation skills coach and trainer, I have had the opportunity to observe presentations by many people from all backgrounds and walks of life. It is my firm belief - and experience has not contradicted me - that while some people are more naturally comfortable with public speaking, EVERYONE can become competent at it, IF they spend the time and work on the right things. Yes, this means YOU, too!
- Public Speaking - Six Tips For Handling Questions With Ease
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Often once you're finished delivering a presentation, the audience will ask questions. This question-and-answer time is still part of your presentation and you can prepare for it in the same way that you prepared for the rest of the presentation. Handled appropriately, questions give you a chance to clarify information you presented or discuss things that you didn't get a chance to mention. Here are six tips to help you prepare for and answer questions with ease:
- How to Get Introduced When Speaking - 6 Tips For an Informative and Effective Introduction
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] When you have to speak to a crowd, how should you handle getting introduced? Here are six tips for success:
- Public Speaking - Overcome Your Fears
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] I recently heard from a small business owner who wrote, "I am one of those people who hate standing in front of an audience... I am finding that my fearfulness is preventing me from marketing my business the way I want to; for example, I avoid going to business association meetings where I have to introduce myself." Sound familiar? This statement is not surprising, since the fear of public speaking is consistently ranked as people's number one fear. That fear becomes a roadblock on your path to success and an obstacle that prevents you from growing your business, getting a better job or feeling more confident.
- Voice Power in Public Speaking - Speak Loudly and Slowly Enough
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] A key component of non-verbal communications is your voice. Along with eye contact, gestures, movement and facial expression, your voice can communicate meaning and help your audience focus on your message. Your voice has an incredible range and ability to convey meaning and emotion, yet most of us use only a small part of that range. Use the following guidelines to unleash the power of your voice so you can deliver your message effectively and connect to the audience.
- Public Speaking - Face Your Fears
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] If you're like most people on the planet, you have fears. And like many people, you may be afraid of speaking in public. Whether it's a mind-numbing, knee-knocking, stomach-churning fear, or a milder, less invasive, I'd-rather-not-be-doing-this fear, it can get in the way of your professional success and your personal growth.
- Visualization & Successful Speeches
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] When I train groups or coach individuals in public speaking, I encourage them to drown out the negative voices in their heads with a positive mantra and visualize themselves successfully giving an effective presentation. The power of visualization has long been used by top athletes to achieve high performance and it also applies to giving presentations.
- Public Speaking - Using Improv Comedy's "Half-Life" Technique to Speak Within Your Time Limit
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Have you ever seen a speaker go over the allotted time limit? Or rush through the material when they realized they were running out of time? What was your reaction to that speaker? Were you impressed?
- Questions to Ask When You're Presenting
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Lately, I've been hearing from a lot of people who have been asked to present at a meeting for a different department or group. Essentially, they're told (by phone or email), "be there at 1 pm to talk for a few minutes about your project." That's not enough information. If you're asked to present, here are the questions that you should ask the organizer to ensure that you convey a message that is useful and appropriate to that audience:
- How to Listen & Not Interrupt
[Relationships:Communication] A reader emailed me with a question: "You give points on being a good listener. I try, but I find myself at times interrupting because I'm so afraid I'm going to forget what I have to say. I've been told to keep a pen and paper handy to jot down what I want to say once the speaker has finished. However, for simple one on one conversations or small group discussions, this isn't always practical. Any other suggestions??" This is a common issue that many of us face. Here are my suggestions:
- Communicating a Change in Your Project's Go-Live Date
[Business:Presentation] Your project go-live date has changed - now what? Regardless of the reasons for the change (and let's face it, "the date has changed" usually is interpreted as "the date has slipped"), there are six steps you should take when communicating a change in your project's go-live date.
- How to Speak Up in a Crowd
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] A class participant recently emailed me with a question: "What if you find yourself in a discussion with quite a few people at a social gathering and you have an important point to make, but feel intimated by those around you? I find I get all tongue twisted and the words do not come out the way I had planned." Here are my suggestions.
- How to Network
[Business:Networking] Whether you're looking for a job or just looking to make contacts in your field, networking is an essential skill. Here are five tips for how to network successfully: 1. Have a Plan Before you decide to attend an event, focus on your purpose for attending.
- Keeping Your Voice Strong While Presenting
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Sometimes when you're presenting, introducing yourself or answering questions in front of a group, your voice trails off at the end of the sentence. Your audience can't understand the last part of your sentence and you may sound nervous and unprepared. Here are four tips for keeping your voice strong throughout your presentation.
- Meetings That Work
[Business:Management] "A meeting is a place where people take minutes and waste hours." Is this statement true of your meetings? Here are four tips for running meetings that are more productive and don't waste hours.
- Declutter Your Presentation
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] A cluttered home or office can overwhelm you and make it difficult for you to find anything. Likewise, a cluttered presentation can overwhelm your audience and make it difficult for them to find your message. Here's how to cut out the clutter in your presentation so your message is easy to find and understand:
- Use a Microphone Like a Pro
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] If you have the option of using a microphone for your next presentation, use it. You will be able to speak at your normal volume while also allowing the audience to hear you without difficulty. Here are five tips on how to use a microphone effectively, without it being distracting.
- Think of Yourself As a Speaker
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Often, people tell me, "I'm not a speaker so I don't have to think about presentation skills." I disagree. I think we are all speakers - yes, even you.
- When Presenting, Give Signs Like Nature
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Here in the New England region of the United States, autumn has arrived and winter is not too far behind. How do I know? The leaves have turned from green to gold and red, there is frost on the grass in the morning and the days are getting shorter. Nature gives clues that signal the end of one season and the coming of the next. These signs tell me what to expect and they help me get ready to rake the leaves, pull out my winter coat and set the clocks back. When you present, you can be like Nature - and give your audience signs as to what's coming next. When you set your audience's expectations, it allows them to follow your message more easily.
- Business Presentation - Dress Rehearsal Preparation
[Business:Presentation] A few days before a play or musical opens, the entire cast and crew conduct a dress rehearsal. They do a complete run-through of the script on stage, dressed in their costumes, with the full scenery and lighting in place and the pit orchestra playing. The purpose of the dress rehearsal is to make sure everything goes smoothly on opening night. The dress rehearsal is a great idea to borrow when you have to give a presentation.
- Public Speaking - Practice, Practice, Practice
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] When I was in high school, I played clarinet in the school band. Every afternoon, I climbed up the hill from the bus stop carrying my clarinet case and every morning, I trudged back down the hill carrying my clarinet case, still unopened and untouched. My performance on the clarinet failed to improve because merely carrying the clarinet was not enough to help improve my skill at playing it. The same is true for presentations. When you're preparing to speak to a group, no matter how small or large, it's not enough to think about what you're going to say or flip through your slides while you're sitting at your desk.
- Using Eye Contact - "The Eyes Have It"
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Whether you're speaking to an audience of one or many, it's important to make eye contact in order to connect. It demonstrates your willingness to connect to the audience on a personal level. It also shows that you are confident and proves that the information resides in your head, not your notes or the slides. When you present, you are talking to individuals, not an impersonal mass of people. You want each person to experience the communication one-on-one.
- 5 More Ways to Be a Better Listener
[Relationships:Communication] Listening is a crucial skill for success in business and in life. If we listen to others, we show them respect, we learn to understand their points of view and we help to build our relationships. Here are 5 more ways to improve your listening skills:
- 5 Ways to Be a Better Listener
[Relationships:Communication] Listening is a crucial skill for professional and personal success. Yet it seems like such a basic skill - we all know how to listen, right? But although this skill is basic in theory, it's difficult to execute. Yes, everyone can listen, but how many people can listen well? Communication is a two-way street - there is a sender (the speaker) and there is a receiver (the listener). And if all goes well, the message that is sent is the same message that is received. As the receiver/listener, it is your job to make sure you understand what the sender/speaker is trying to communicate.
- Non-Verbal Communications Matter
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] When you speak to an audience, do your words match your non-verbal communications? If there is a disconnect between verbal and non-verbal communications, your audience will believe your non-verbals.
- Think On Your Feet - And Watch Out For The Wasp!
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] Last week, I was scheduled to speak about public speaking to a group of 50 administrative professionals, in honor of Administrative Professionals Day. I was well- prepared; I had interviewed several people from the audience over the phone and I had my notes, timer and driving directions ready. I arrived more than an hour early in order to have lunch with the participants.
- Speaking in Public? Choose Million-Dollar Words
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] When you're preparing and practicing a presentation, your word choice matters. If your words are weak or unclear, they can interfere with your ability to communicate your message effectively to your audience. To be an effective presenter, you should choose what I call "million-dollar words" - strong, evocative, precise and sensible words.
- What's Your Point?
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] How many times have you sat through a presentation, only to walk out wondering "what was the point of that?!" Whether it was a one-minute presentation or one hour, if the audience doesn't know what the point was, then the presentation was not successful. Here are some things you can do to ensure this doesn't happen to you.
- Speaking in Public? Know Your Audience
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] The number one rule of successful presentation preparation is to know your audience. Here are some tips to consider when you're thinking about how to connect to your audience, whether it's an audience of 1 or 100: Know what's playing on station WIIFM. That's the station the people in your audience ...
- Public Speaking Fear? Drown Out That Negative Voice In Your Head!
[Writing-and-Speaking:Public-Speaking] If your stomach churns just at the thought of speaking in front of a group of people, you're not alone. In fact, people rate public speaking as their number one fear - even ahead of death (hence the old joke that you would rather be in the coffin than giving the eulogy)! Think about what's going through your head right at that moment when you're getting ready to open your mouth, whether it's at a staff meeting at work or in front of the local YMCA parents' group.
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