Public Speaking with Peter George

Where do you look to find great storytellers? As a speaker, it wouldn't be unusual for you to look to other speakers — those who have become very adept at the art. But have you looked to actors? Think about it. Actors are in stories. And how they deliver their every word has an effect on how that story is consumed and interpreted. Tune in as Kerri Garbis, a professional actor and CEO of Ovation, provides numerous tips on being a more effective storyteller. Takeaways The advantages storytelling provides for speakers and their audiences When to include stories in your presentations How much to share in your stories How to get help when searching for stories The #1 thing you're probably leaving out of your stories The biggest mistake you make when telling stories Resources GetOvation.com

When a client is developing a new talk, what do you think I ask them? Actually, there are several things, but the one that matters to me most is, "How will your audience be transformed by the end of your talk?" New clients tend to answer with something like, "I'm going to talk about X, Y, Z." Although I would never say it like this to them, at this time, I don't care what the topic is. I want to know how their audience is going to be transformed. The reason I'm so adamant about this is because ...

Where are you on your journey in public speaking? Are you just starting out? Are you hitting your stride? Are you ready to further refine your skills and craft and deliver even more engaging and compelling talks? No matter where you are, listen in to Robert White describe his journey, complete with trials and triumphs. What he has to say just might resonate with you and give you that boost of encouragement you've been looking for. Takeaways - How you can have the largest radio show in Wisconsin and still get a C in speech class - Robert's impetus to self-exploration - The 4 levels of learning - Preparing for speaking - Being vulnerable - Building report with the audience - Using humor vs jokes - The value of improve - First have something to say Resources - ExtraordinaryPeople.com

I can't overstress the importance of a dress rehearsal. A dress rehearsal uncovers things that may might otherwise go unnoticed until the day of your talk. For instance, you may find that your clothes are too tight or too loose, your sports jacket has a stain, or your shirt has a missing button. You'll discover if the microphone picks up on your bracelets making noise or if you can comfortably stand in the shoes you intend to wear for an extended time. If you can do your dress rehearsal in the space where you'll be speaking, you might even find that the room you'll be giving your talk in is a lot warmer than you anticipated, so you'll want to rethink your wardrobe entirely. You might not think all of this is necessary, but believe me, you don't want to worry about clothing problems before or during your speaking engagement. And I know from experience. Listen in and find out how.

Can podcasting help you grow your speaking business? Yes, it can. Through podcasting, I've gained new clients as a speaker and speaking coach. And that's fantastic. But the best part of being both a host and a guest is the people I've met and gotten to know. Some of these people are even in my new book, The Captivating Public Speaker. And others have become valuable resources. One of these people is Alex Sanfilippo, the founder of PodMatch and other services designed to help podcasters in a multitude of ways. In this episode, Alex tells you how PodMatch came about and how you can use it to build a show, be a frequent guest on shows, and the value of doing either or both. He and PodMatch have been instrumental in the success of this show, and it's a pleasure to have him join me for my 100th episode. Takeaways - Podcasting (hosting and guesting) is another stage - How podcasting helps you speak with people who know what your listeners (and you) want to know - How to overcome the common hosting problem of locating valuable guests - How podcasting helps you build your personal brand - Why many podcasters stop podcasting and how PodMatch is helping overcome it Resources - PodPros.com - PodMatch.com - Podcasting Made Simple

As the saying goes, it's not if something will go wrong, it's when something will go wrong. So, what are you going to do when something unexpected happens while you're speaking? Have you ever thought about how you might respond to the inevitable? If not? You should. Now, you can't be prepared for every conceivable instance because you won't think of all the possibilities ...

As a speaker, you're also a business owner, salesperson, and marketer. And as a marketer, you must present yourself in a way that inspires, impresses, and establishes confidence in others for your abilities, products, and services. Today, social media is one of the places that many people turn to in order to achieve this. And of the various social media platforms, LinkedIn has proven to be a solid choice for many speakers. In today's episode, Donna Serdula lets you know how you can most effectively represent yourself and connect with others. So listen in, take her suggestions and ideas and see if they can help you market yourself on the platform more effectively and grow your business. Takeaways - How Linkedin has taken the place of the watercooler - How to stand out from everyone else - How to use Donna's SOAR method to succeed on Linkedin - How to take advantage of Linkedin's database - How Linkedin's robust platform helps you promote your personal brand - Why following someone might be the better choice over connecting with them - Whether you should be using Linkedin to generate leads Resources - DonnaSerdula.com - Linkedin-MakeOver.com - Donna Serdula on Linkedin

Imagine being at a Broadway show, and the lead actor is playing a character who's heartbroken by the sudden death of her only child. As she enters the stage, just for a moment, she is nonchalant, jumping into character only after she is within full view of the audience. Even if you don't consciously see this, you still might feel that something is off. The same is true when you, as a speaker, appear in front of a crowd. Within a few seconds of seeing you, the audience decides whether or not they have confidence in you and, accordingly, whether or not they should have confidence in the information you share with them. The fascinating thing is that, for most people, this evaluation is made at the unconscious level. Consequently, to connect with your audience and instantly demonstrate confidence, you, like an actor, must be in character before your audience sees you. You can't wait until you're walking on stage to have energy. Nor can you wait until you begin talking to employ the body language that aligns with your message. If you do, you'll run the risk of not connecting with your audience from the very first moment. If you'd like to see a clip of Jack Nicholson getting into character before filming a scene in The Shining, click on the link in the show notes. https://youtu.be/Qu3xxq5F3Gw

Do you find public speaking to be mentally and physically exhausting? I know I do. After I speak, I'm happy to go to my hotel room and relax for a while. And I speak about public speaking! How draining is it for those speakers — and maybe you're one of them — who speak about topics and experiences that carry a great deal of emotional weight? How do you keep your emotions in check? Well, Tricia Roos is with us today to help answer these and other questions. Tricia built a winning career in sports and high school admissions but found her greatest victory in loss. Author of When Wishes Change, she now makes her living by speaking about her baby daughter, who died shortly after birth. Listen in as she shares how she learned to make her presentations powerful and genuine while ensuring that she doesn't break down in tears due to the emotion attached to her story. Takeaways - The importance of preparation - How to be professional while including the emotion of your story - How to deal with your audiences' reactions to your story - How to deal with the weight you carry before, during, and after your talk Resources - WhenWishesChange.com

Do you think that, as a speaker, you need a brand? You bet you do. In fact, if you know it or not, you already have one — whether or not it's the one you want is entirely up to you. So, as you listen to this episode, ask yourself if your brand strategically supports your efforts to grow your business, if others view you as you view yourself, and if you live up to your brand. My guests, Tonya Eberhart & Michael Carr of BrandFace, will help you answer these questions and more. First, here are. A few things you should know about Tonya and Michael. They are international bestselling authors, hosts of the Be Bold Branding Podcast, and partners in BrandFace, the only comprehensive personal brand-building system across the globe. They have helped and inspired authors, podcasters, coaches, real estate agents, and business owners in 5 countries and 43 US states to stand out and become authorities in their markets through the power of personal branding. Takeaways - Learn the difference between marketing and branding and how each helps you succeed - Understand the difference between branding a company and an individual - See how three simple steps help you develop your personal brand - Hear 5 critical questions you should ask when assessing your personal brand - Determine if you are living up to the expectations you've established - Discover the importance of your commitment to authenticity - Hear how brand leads to confidence which leads to success Resources - DiscussYourBrand.com