I realized that it all started with something that I learned from a former Langevin Trainer, Achim Nowak, in his book “Power Speaking: The Art of the Exceptional Public Speaker.”  He breaks it up into a simple 3 level approach:

Level 1: The Craft Level

This level focuses on the basic skills of a presenter – what actors tend to call their “instrument.” This would include working on your voice, body movement, gestures, eye contact, and personal energy. (Be sure to check out Melissa’s and Lynne’s blogs for more detailed tips at this level. Great ideas, ladies!) Obviously, we need to incorporate these basic skills as public speakers.

Level 2:  The Connection Level

This level focuses on our relationship with the learners and how we can engage our audience. So, how do we connect with our learners? Through the use of stories, questions, and humor. This level is where we begin to separate the beginner from the advanced presenter.

Level 3: The Flow Level

This level examines how we “come across” to our audience and this is where the magic begins to happen. For example, if you are delivering a “canned speech,” the listeners can pick up on this and it signifies that you don’t respect your audience. The key is to be spontaneous, go off the script, and speak from the heart. This kind of spontaneity is a “state of flow” where your presentation unfolds effortlessly.

The more I reflected on the session, the more I realized that I had gone “off the script” at times during the training – meaning, I was so comfortable with the content and structure of the course, that I was able to speak in the moment and  in my own words. I was able to react to comments and be myself while still respecting and staying true to the overall design of the course. As a result, we all shared, laughed, and learned from each other. Obviously, the group was a big part of my success. We all know that having a motivated, lively, and fun group can make all the difference in a training session.

So, remember the levels. Focus on your craft, make a connection, and be spontaneous. It’s amazing what can happen when you just let it flow!

And for a really great coaching experience as well as a copy of Achim’s book, you may want to take our Polishing Your Presentation Skills course!

Marsha

Gestures can, and should be, an integral part of a trainer’s speaking skills for many reasons. First, using gestures adds meaning to our course content. Second, using gestures allows us to connect more with our learners. And finally, using gestures allows us to release any excess tension we may be feeling while we are in front of a group.

Every gesture we use should have a purpose while still appearing natural and smooth. For example, using an open hand gesture while walking towards a learner who is asking a question shows the learner that you care about them and their question. At the same time it communicates respect.

Gestures certainly play an important part when it comes to being an excellent instructor and facilitator. However, if you teach outside of the United States you may find that it pays to do some homework. There are many cultural differences when it comes to the meaning of gestures. I recently purchased a book entitled, “Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands” by Terri Morrison and Wayne A. Conaway which provides some interesting and valuable information about conducting business in sixty different countries. The book points out many areas to consider when working abroad and includes information about the meaning of gestures in these countries. I learned many things and I plan on applying many of the tips I discovered when I teach outside the U.S.

As a Langevin Instructor, I typically greet learners by shaking hands with them as they enter the room. I can safely continue this gesture in Argentina, Belgium, Canada, and France, but in India, as a female instructor, I will not initiate handshakes with male learners. Also, if I teach in Belgium, Sweden, or Japan I will refrain from using expansive hand gestures.

So, if you teach primarily in the United States, keep perfecting the use of gestures as part of your teaching style. However, when working with learners from other countries, take care to research what hand gestures are appropriate for each particular culture so you do not inadvertently offend!

Lynne

Let’s look at some of the benefits of practicing our public speaking skills.

As trainers we need to clearly communicate our content to our learners in an engaging manner. Think about all the things we compete with to keep our learners’ attention.  We contend with electronic devices, images of work piling up on desks, and thoughts of home responsibilities.  If we don’t communicate with confident, well-polished presentation skills, we run the risk of losing our participants’ attention, and learning will not take place.

Okay, you are probably thinking that sounds like a good enough reason to practice public speaking skills for instructor-led training, but what if we design and develop e-learning?  Surely we can skip the public speaking practice, right?  Perhaps we can, but then again, perhaps not.  What if we decide to add some vocal narration to an e-learning program?  Look at the following contrasts:

• Have you ever listened to talk radio and changed the station because the host was inarticulate and, quite frankly, boring?
• Conversely, have you ever listened to an audio book during a long car trip and became so engaged that you reached your destination and wondered where the time went?

Vocal skills matter – and not only when we are standing at the front of a classroom.

In staff meetings have you ever presented management with information on how training is going?  How you present yourself leaves a lasting impression. Like it or not, people judge us not only by what we say but also how we say it.   Solid public speaking skills increase our credibility and convey confidence.

Have I convinced you yet that practicing your public speaking skills is important?  If not, let me try one final time.  On an all-important job interview, when the recruiter asks you to explain your background, don’t you want to project confidence while you talk about yourself?  And, in this economic climate, it’s especially important to present yourself in the best way possible.

So, there you have it trainers – my take on the importance of practicing public speaking skills.

Remember, in order to teach, inspire, and motivate, we must also captivate!

By the way, if you are looking for more pubic speaking tips, please see Melissa’s recent blog post called The “WOW” Factor: Tips for Public Speakers.

Lynne

• Am I making eye contact?
• Are my gestures appropriate and convincing?
• Is my stance balanced?
• Am I using speech fillers?

Below are some of my favorite skill and improvement tips.  Some of these techniques may seem obvious, but they’re often neglected or forgotten — especially when under pressure.

Make random eye contact.

It’s the most powerful means of conveying non-verbal messages and the single most important aspect of connecting with an audience.  Scan the entire room and allow your gaze to rest on one person for approximately two seconds before you “scan and lock” again.  Try to create a casual flow from front to back, side to side.  Eye contact makes your audience feel included and acknowledged.

Smile!

It seems obvious, but a smile is the first thing that goes when you are nervous.  But smiling is a great method to break the ice and put your audience at ease.  Become aware of the degree to which you smile (or don’t) when you’re nervous.

Use gestures for emphasis.

A gesture is a hand movement that is as much a part of language as speech!  The bigger the audience, the bigger the gestures need to be.  Try to scale your gestures to match the size of your audience.  Gestures need to start at the shoulder and stay above the waist – so everyone can see them.  Low gestures can draw the audience down and away from your face, and then they become distracting.  Penguins can be cute, but they’re not good presenters.

Assume the “Ready Position.”

Place your feet hip-width apart to create a solid base.  Position your weight over the balls of the feet and relax your knees.  Finally, rest your arms at your sides.  Resist the urge to fidget!

Move with purpose!

Focus on someone in your audience.  Move toward that same person as you are speaking, and maintain eye contact.  Stop in the “Ready Position” and stay in one spot for awhile.  Don’t move too soon, or you’ll look like you’re pacing.  From here, you can focus on several people, one at a time, for 3-6 seconds each.  (3-6 seconds translates into a complete thought or sentence per person.)

Make listening easy.

By incorporating silent spaces between thoughts, you give listeners time to absorb the idea you just stated.  Best of all, it gives you an opportunity to breathe!

Reduce filler words.

Become aware of the fillers (uh’s, um’s, you knows, etc.) and replace them with the silence of a pause.  Listen to your own voice-mail messages to help identify your particular fillers.

Finally, don’t hide your hands in your pockets!

If both of your hands are in your pockets, it says your usefulness is in suspension!!  Literally translated, “I can’t give you a hand.”

I enjoy learning about and gathering new tips and techniques to add to my “Trainer’s Toolbox,” so I’d like to hear from you.  What are some of your favorite tools/techniques to polish your presentation skills?

Melissa