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".

Preparing Your Small Business to Survive Unforeseen Setbacks

Business owners wear many hats. They are planners, financial managers, logistics experts, manufacturers or service providers, and employers who often hire and train their own staff. In a recent conversation with a small business owner he said he had made a couple improvements to ensure the needs of his family in the event of a natural disaster. Until we had an informal conversation about it, he hadn't really thought of making a plan for his business or considered how an unforeseen situation could affect his employees or disrupt business operations. He is very bright.

This new insight has allowed him to consider implementing small business changes that could make the difference in keeping his doors open under adverse conditions.

Planning does not have to be limited to natural or manmade disasters, but a good plan does include a simple analysis of the hazards a business could face and cost-effective plans to reduce the impact of each hazard. Some businesses have added contingeny plans to survive periods of decreased income due to lessons learned during the recent economic downturn. In addition, businesses may plan for acute unforeseen needs of employees. These needs might include a sudden catastropic diagnosis, a serious accident or unexpected property or financial loss of an employee or family member. A humane approach calls for small owners and managers to know how to support employees through a life crisis without going broke. Recently, an assistant manager employed by a popular restaurant chain was grateful for information about how a lady with cancer could receive donations to help defray medical expenses through a website that charges no fees.

Disaster Awareness Series

Disaster Awareness Series

Resilient Churches: Does Your Church Have a Disaster Plan?
If so, what is your communication plan. Depending on the type of disaster cell phones may not work. Name two work around plans that will allow communication to continue without interruption.
Is there an evacuation plan? Have members practiced the plan? Was the plan developed with other community partners? What type of supplies will our organization provided and what must members provide?

Business Continuity Planning for Leadership Teams
Does your church back up vital document and payroll records. Do you have a team that can restore data if a technology failure occurs? How long can employees or vendors go without getting paid? What work around plans are there to assure employees get paid on time? Do your vendors have business continuity plans to prevent a disruption in supplies?

Ministry Opportunities in Disaster Response
One of the most exciting aspects is for faith-based groups and nongovernmental organizations to come to bring resources to the table, coordinate efforts and eliminate duplication of services. Public-private relationships are also a part of disaster response. Learn how mechanisms work and how to fit into national, state and local plans.