SPEAK WITH CONFIDENCE

The last post was on how to create a presentation. Creating it is one thing, delivering it to a live audience is another.

So here are some tips to improve you confidence level.

Start small. Find opportunities to talk to small groups about something you are passionate about.
Sit down at first. As you get more comfortable, stand up to speak. Get comfortable using a microphone.

Fake it. Musicians learn if they make a mistake, the audience is less aware if they just roll with it, rather than drawing attention to it. The same is true of public speaking. Okay, maybe the words didn't roll out like you'd planned. So what. Just resume the talk.

Adjust your style. Years ago, I was invited to give a presentation to a women's business club. Unbeknownst to me and two other presenters, their bosses, many of them male, were in the audience too. During the preliminaries, I took out a dinner napkin, and re-fashioned the presentation for a broader audience. It was a big hit.

Be passionate. Have you ever heard a college professor drone on, pace back and forth or look at the floor? How about all three at the same time. If you want to be a good presenter, talk to the audience like you are sharing an important life changing secret and you don't want them to miss out.

Never bore your audience. Use good intonation. Keep them on the edge of their seats. Use an interactive style when appropriate. Watch their faces. If you have a good topic, and presentation style, it will hold their attention.

Record it. Watch yourself and improve your delivery.

Build on strengths. If you can speak confidently for one minute without collapsing, you are a great success. Try speaking to different audiences and age groups.

Expand your repertoire. If you have mastered speaking on one topic with confidence, consider developing additional presentations. 

Affirm yourself and use humor.  " Ah, I can handle this". "Okay, just step into a roll like you're in a play". Well, it wasn't perfect, but at least its a start". "This was a lot better than the last time". "With practice I could make a go of this".

HOW TO GIVE A PRESENTATION

Public speaking is purportedly a difficult task for many, so here are a few guidelines to help.

First, write out what you want to say. Grab your audiences attention with a related quote, powerful statistic, joke or brief moving story.

Beginners just need to choose a topic.

Decide three things you want to say about the topic.

In the introduction, briefly state those three points.

Then develop each topic into one full paragraph.

To help the audience predict what you will do next, become an expert at writing transitions.
A transition is usually one sentence that sums up the preceding topic and introduces the next topic.

Finish by writing a conclusion. The conclusion is a summary of the three topics you talked about.

Until you become proficient, color code your presentation. For instance, shade all your transitions the same color. This will allow you to visually assess whether all the transitions are in their proper place.

Visuals are very useful. Another great technique is to engage the audience by asking questions, or to invite hands on participation to illustrate the point. 

"HUNGRY, ANYTHING HELPS"

Cardboard signs abound on many corners in Portland, Oregon. And behind them are invisible people. Some profit handsomely, some take turns working shifts, and many are exploited.  Handing people money rarely solves a problem. The best way to help is to financially support local pantries, shelters, and churches that are set up to serve the public or volunteer your time.

This is an update on consulting work with a church in S.E. Portland. Their initial goal was to launch a community pantry in a diverse neighborhood with higher than average food insecurity.

After nearly a year of probono work, it has been well worth the small investment of time.

The pantry team has doubled in size, and added several community partners. The pantry served 12 families in January. Growth has steadily increased and in the month of September, the pantry served 73 families.

This group is mirroring Jesus's words to feed the hungry. Hunger is what happens when a person doesn't have enough to eat. And it begins to impact a child in school, or a parent at work.

Food insecurity refers to a long list of problems that contribute to hunger-job loss, no high school diploma, loss of housing, no affordable child care and more.

Addressing food insecurity requires building relationships, identifying needs, assessing readiness, community partnerships, financial resources and a huge core of trained volunteers. 

Pantries offer emergency assistance, and give families time to improve their financial circumstances to prevent food insecurity as a way of life.

.

What is Neighborhood Resilience?

Neighborhood resilience is built one person and one family at a time. Before long, an entire block may benefit.

Here are some ideas:
Share a garden space anywhere you can find one. Share knowledge, labor, cost (including a tool sharing agreement), produce and seeds.
Create a kitchen tool sharing plan for larger items that are only used a few times a year. Examples include food dehydrators, canning equipment, sealing equipment, commercial grade mixing bowls and pans.
Plant themed flower or herb gardens on the entire block. It shows neighborhood pride.
Exchange gently used toys or children's clothing to save money.
Hold a neighborhood jobs club.
Have a neighborhood clothes and accessory sharing clothes closet to help job seekers land the perfect job.
Trade services such as cleaning gutters in exchange for sewing alterations. Build the neighbor a fence, or chicken coop in exchange for work on your car.
Consider a monthly book club, book exchange, or book sale.
Teach a variety of skills at a neighborhood craft fair.
Teach basic home or auto repair classes to your neighbors.
Start a neighborhood choir.
Host neighborhood celebrations.