Public Speaking with Peter George

After you've delivered a presentation, don't you love when people come up to you and say, "Great job!"? It feels good, doesn't it? Well, I used to love it, too. But then, one evening, I gave a talk that I knew was far from my best, and still, people said, "Great job!" That got me thinking. Why are people telling me a talk was great even when I know it wasn't? The answer is a simple one. They are being polite. If you've spoken often enough, the same has probably happened to you. So, how can you tell the difference between a polite "Great job!" and a meaningful "Great job!"? Perhaps you can listen for the level of enthusiasm in people's voices as they give you this compliment. But there is a way that you can not only determine when the praise is sincere but also learn why your presentation resonated with them. When someone says, "Great job!" Awesome talk!" or anything else that indicates they liked and appreciated your efforts, respond with something like, "Thank you. I appreciate your kind words. What resonated with you most?" Or "What was your biggest takeaway?" Their answers will tell you everything you need to know. - The Captivating Public Speaker available on Amazon

Perhaps the most important speech you'll ever give is one that lasts only a few minutes. This speech is commonly known as a toast. My guest on this episode, Eddie Rice, discusses the art of both creating a toast and delivering it so that when you have the occasion to deliver a toast, it will be remembered for all the right reasons. Takeaways - How to determine the goal of your toast - How not to give a toast that ends up on YouTube for the wrong reason - How to structure your toast - The first thing you should say - How to make the middle of your toast relevant - How to end on a powerful note - How to deliver your toast well - Who to address in your toast - What to use for notes - How to hold the mic - How to get feedback when preparing your toast Resources - RiceSpeechWriting.com - Toast: Short Speeches, Big Impact - The Captivating Public Speaker on Amazon

As a speaker, two of the things you want to do are engage your audiences and set yourself apart from other speakers. And wouldn't it be great if you could accomplish both of these at the same time? Well, that's exactly what my guest, Gordon Stein, is going to help you do. Takeaways - The value of watching video after the fact - How to determine exactly what the audience is looking for - Who you can share the survey with - What you can learn after your talks - Why you can't assume who your audience is - The single most important thing to focus on - How to surprise your client and set yourself apart - How to engage your audience before the event takes place - Ways to engage on stage - How you want your audience to feel - A powerful way to review your videos Resources - CashFlowCookBook.com

Have you ever thought about the many advantages that being a value-driven podcast guest offers you and your brand growth? Well, if you have, or even if you're thinking about thinking about it, listen to my conversation with Jason Cercone, and you'll discover a dynamic, innovative, and fun way to build your brand. You'll also learn how to establish authority in your space and develop more confident, powerful public speaking skills. Takeaways - Why podcasting is such a powerful platform for brand building - The advantage of storytelling - Is starting a podcast a good way to build your brand? - Should podcast guesting be a campaign? - Is it quality or quantity? - How being selective benefits you - Broadening your reach by appearing on podcasts - How podcasts help hone your public speaking skills - Prospect as a potential guest - Podcasting helps build your community Resources JasonCercone.com JasonCercone.com/PodcastLove PodMatch.com

(3rd in a 3-Part Series) Do you use slides in your presentations? If so, do you use them in a way that helps your listeners immediately understand their meaning and how it supports your talk, or do they confuse your audience or otherwise distract from your talk? In this episode, you're going to hear a few ideas that will make your next presentation more engaging and professional. - The Captivating Public Speaker available on Amazon

Why do you speak? Is it for the sake of speaking, or do you speak as a means to an end? I often say, don't speak to inform; speak to transform, while my guest, Roy Osing, puts it a little differently. He suggests you speak not to the logical side of the brain but the emotional side so you can, as he puts it, "light fires in people." Takeaways - The value of having an "only" statement - How being different matters - Why you have to know who your customers are - How to get people to join you - The mistake leaders make by delegating speaking - Is speaking a performance? Resources - BeDifferentOrBeDead.com

(2nd in a 3-Part Series) Do you use slides in your presentations? If so, do you use them in a way that helps your listeners immediately understand their meaning and how it supports your talk, or do they confuse your audience or otherwise distract from your talk? In this episode, you're going to hear a few ideas that will make your next presentation more engaging and professional. - The Captivating Public Speaker available on Amazon

Have you looked into how other activities may help you become a more effective, engaging speaker? You have? Then you've probably found things like improv, stand-up comedy, and impromptu speaking sessions. But what about ballroom dancing? I've never heard about this either, but when you listen to my guest, Mark Herschberg, you'll understand how it and other activities may help you in your journey. Takeaways - Benefits of participating in speaking-related (and not-so-related) activities - Overcoming disfluencies - Learning to not let your thoughts hold you back - Understanding that people are pulling for you - What is Brain Bump, and how can it help you? Resources - TheCareerToolkitBook.com - CognoscoMedia.com

Do you use slides in your presentations? If so, do you use them in a way that helps your listeners immediately understand their meaning and how it supports your talk, or do they confuse your audience or otherwise distract from your talk? In this episode, you're going to hear a few ideas that will make your next presentation more engaging and professional. Takeaways - How reading your slides kills your engagement - When you should turn the lights down - When to use black slides - The Captivating Public Speaker available on Amazon

Standing up and speaking in front of others may or may not make you nervous. But what about appearing on video … and I don't mean just on Zoom. What about being in a studio or making a TV Commercial? If any of these scenarios make your heart race and your mind go blank, then my guest, Amy Scruggs, has a few simple ideas you can implement that just might make a world of difference. Takeaways - Do this first - Adjusting your mindset - Starting small - Take 2, toss 1 - What watching the tape does for you Resources - AmyScruggsMedia.com - AmySruggs.com - Lights, Camera, Action available on Amazon