4 Ways to Improve Your Presentation Skills
Workopolis.com (Monday, April 28, 2008)
by Alan Kearns
What is one of the best ways to increase your income, advance your career and cause new opportunities to come your way? My research and experience have shown that learning to speak and present ideas in an effective way is the easiest way to achieve those three goals. You may be thinking that this column does not have much relevance to you, but we make presentations all the time. It starts first thing in the morning when you get your kids out of bed. Add up how many times in a day you present ideas to influence or persuade in order to move people or a project forward - you would be surprised!
This week's podcast is with Farah and Martin Perelmuter, founders of Canada's leading speaking agency, Speakers Spotlight. They represent more than 500 of the most accomplished Canadians, including Michael "Pinball" Clemons, Justin P.J. Trudeau and Olympic Champion, Cindy Klassen. Their clients speak at more than 2000 events every year. In our conversation, they shared four ideas that anyone can use to present with confidence, persuade with effectiveness and leave a great impression. These four concepts can be used whether you are an Olympic Athlete speaking to 2000 executives or a young professional presenting a solution to your boss.
Farah and Martin both graduated from university taking very traditional programs. Farah joined the advertising industry and Martin joined a Bay Street firm as a new lawyer. Life was great - they were on track toward marriage, mortgage and following the Freedom-55 path. Farah's uncle, a professional speaker, knowing her marketing experience asked for her help to develop his packaging. Here is the kicker. Farah said, "I had never seen a speaker, I knew nothing about the industry and the business, but I did the research." Like all good marketers, she set out on the path of learning as much as she could. After all, you never want to be fired by your Uncle. This accidental "client" led her and Martin down an entirely new career path, one in which they had much more control over and were both equally passionate about.
"We were 25 years old with nothing to loose - we took the crazy entrepreneurial adventure. Quitting our jobs, we went back to living the student lifestyle." Speakers Spotlight started in a spare bedroom and now 13 years later with four offices and a team of 20, they have grown into a leader in their field. Not only have they impacted millions of people through their speakers and events, they now have also built a schoolhouse in Kenya.
As Farah said, "How can we fail? We work with the best in the world. We can't have a bad day. We are in the business of changing lives through the sharing of powerful ideas".
Here are four attributes of a great presentation:
- It makes you think differently. Don't underestimate your ability to bring a unique perspective to ideas or problems. You would be surprised what others don't know.
- It is entertaining. Whether it is in your story telling, visual elements or your use of humour, you need to make it interesting for the audience to connect with your ideas and stay interested.
- It inspires you. Think of Obama's "Yes we Can!" Can you tell me the specifics of his platform? Most likely not. What Obama does through his speeches is to inspire and create tremendous emotion around his campaign and his ideas.
- It is authentic. We live in a world that is very cynical in many ways. You can't fake and make it anymore in this highly competitive world. Don't be afraid to be you.
Bonus thoughts - two ways to get the most from a presentation:
- Have an open mind and be realistic about what to expect. Action - Make a goal of taking one idea away from each presentation.
- Be present and focused. Let your Blackberry have the hour off.
As Martin said about speeches, and I whole heartedly agree, "You never know what you are going to learn or how your lives are going to be changed."
The Lawyer’s Weekly - June 17, 2009
Lawyer of the Week
The Toronto Star - March 16, 2009
Presidents don't always subscribe to free speech
Vancouver Sun - March 2, 2009
Football flash Rudy still drawing them in
Financial Post - February 21, 2009
Dubya's coming to Cowtown
MeetingsCanada.com - December 11, 2008
Speakers’ Spotlight CEO Named a Most Powerful Women in 2008
Press Release - November 27 2008
CEO of Speakers’ Spotlight One of Canada’s Most Powerful Women in 2008
MeetingsCanada.com - November 27, 2008
Speakers' Spotlight Wins Workplace Award
Press Release - November 2008
Speakers' Spotlight: More Than Just Talk
MSN Small Business - October 2008
Profile: Speakers' Spotlight
Millionairemom.com - October 2008
Millionaire Moms Audio Interview with Farah Perelmuter
Canadian Event Perspective - August 2, 2008
Defied Odds to Stay True to Their Dream...
Women's Post - July 11, 2008
Woman of the day
Bizbash.com - June 12, 2008
M.C.s Gone Wild - How to keep talent from going off-book and out-of-bounds
by Mimi O'Connor
Workopolis.com - April 28, 2008
4 Ways to Improve Your Presentation Skills
By Alan Kearns
CareerJoy.com - April 28, 2008
3 keys to a great speech Podcast
Montreal Gazette - April 07, 2008
Bill Clinton raking it in from Canadian public appearances
By Elizabeth Thompson
Alberta Venture - March, 2008
The Star Treatment
By Shannon Sutherland
AOL Canada - February 13, 2008
Couple Q&A:
Romance is....Notes on the Windshield, Bum Squeezes and Kids
By Sarah Treleaven
National Post - December, 2007
Gabbing with gracious gurus
By Shinan Govani,
Woman's Post - December, 2007
Farah Perelmuter: change to happiness
By Angela Trimmer
Midtown Town Crier - November, 2007
Midtown couple dreams their way to success
By Kelly Gadzala
National Post - September 29, 2007
Business owner by age nine, CEO proves an early start helps
By Libby Znaimer
Emprendedores
Speakers Spotlight, por hablar que no quede
Contemporary Business Communication
Business Presentations
By Scot Ober & Brad Quiring
Speaking Of Impact - Summer, 2007
Racing for ROI
By Michelle Ray, CSP
Progressive Choices - Winter/Spring, 2007
Making A Difference
By Cathy Watters
Progressive Choices
National Post - January 15, 2007
Confessions of Dynamic Duos
Running a business with your spouse
By Deena Waisberg
globeandmail.com - May 30, 2006
Married to the Job
By Sasha Nagy
Esteem Magazine - Spring 2006
Balancing Success
By Kevin Craig
The Globe and Mail - Sept. 29, 2004
Speakers' circuit not just talk
By Wallace Immen
WOMEN CAN DO ANYTHING (July 2004)
Let’s
Talk Business Interview
with Farah Perelmuter
INNOVATIVE PROGRESS (May 2004)
BUILD
BUZZ: 8 Keys to Entrepreneurial Success
by Martin Perelmuter, LL B.
SPEAKING OF IMPACT (Spring 2004)
A Tale
of Two Countries
by Martin Perelmuter, LL B.
In Conference
Supplement in The Globe and Mail - Spring 2004
Speaking Out Conferences Energized
by Successful Speakers
PROFITguide.com (October/November 2003)
How to fire your customers - Cutting
off paying customers sounds counterproductive, but it can actually
help you grow
THE MISSISSAUGA NEWS (Nov 13, 2002)
At Bridges to Business symposium - Don't quit
entrepreneurs told
MPI Newsbytes (Volume 9, Issue 27 02 July 2002)
Canadian Speakers Circuit Flying High
by
Funmi Okunbolade
Profit Magazine (June, 2002)
Heroes for Hard Times:Canada's Fastest-Growing
Companies point the way to survival and success
Profit Magazine (June, 2002)
Trends: How to Introduce a Speaker
The Globe and Mail: In Conference Magazine (Spring, 2002)
Talking About Success: The Speaking Industry
The National Post (Monday March 19, 2001)
Site helps track down celebrity speakers
by Marjo Johne
Canadian Jewish News (August 3rd, 2000)
Young Couple's Speakers' Agency Thrives
by Sheldon Kirshner
The Calgary Herald (April 22, 2000)
Mount Everest Climb Shared on Internet
by Michelle Simick
The Generator (November, 1999)
Focus
on Success
by Amy Harder
Royal Bank - Today's Entrepreneur (First Aired: March 29,
1999)
Partners in business and life
Home Business Report (Summer, 1999)
Speakers, Service and Spousal Partners:
Couple brings celebrities to Canadian events
by E.T. (Mitch) Lenko
Globe and Mail (Monday, January 11, 1999)
Couple Builds Agency on Soapbox,
by Jeff Brooke
The National Post (Monday, December 21, 1998)
When Your Partner is Your Business,
by Laura Fowlie
The Western Alumni Magazine (September, 1998)
"Well Spoken",
by Jeff Brooke
The Toronto Star (May 25, 1998)
Thinking Big - Agency puts speakers in spotlight
by Michael Schultz
Association - Canada's Association Management Magazine
(December/January, 1997/1998)
Best Speaker Bets: 1998 Forecast
The Meeting Professional (December, 1997)
"Beyond Boundaries: Speaking Across Cultural Boundaries",
by Martin Perelmuter
The Financial Post Magazine (January, 1997)
"Power Talks",
by John Greenwood
The Toronto Sun (August 18, 1996)
"Two by Two: Lessons for Couples Living and Working
Together",
by Sandy Naiman
Association Magazine (June/July, 1996)
"Helpful Hints on Booking a Speaker",
by Farah Perelmuter
The Toronto Star (November 27, 1995)
"'Canadian' the New Word in Public Speaking",
by Oscar Rojo
|
