AUGUST 2012
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IN THIS ISSUE: US Speaker Amish Shar shares tips for PRESENTING IN BUSINESS What does it take to be a GREAT public speaker? Your VOICE tells your audience MORE than you think Mine the GOLD in your business Don’t leave straight away! Ask for what you want
PLUS:
Success Stories AND Transform your Small Business
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DIARY DATE INFLUENTIAL PRESENTATION SKILLS (2-day Public Program) Join Michelle at her next public program IN SYDNEY: • August 22-23 (full) • October 16-17 (full) • November 13-14 • December 3-4 IN MELBOURNE: • August 29-30 (full) IN BRISBANE: • October 24-25 (full) To register or chat about your specific needs please email: michelle@michellebowden.com.au
Who is Michelle Bowden? Michelle is an expert in influential presentation skills in business. She has run her 2-day Influential Presentation Skills program over 570 times with many thousands of people and she’s been nominated for Educator of the Year 3 years running. Michelle is one of only 25 Australian females who is a Certified Speaking Professional - the highest designation for speakers in the world. For a list of Michelle’s clients please go to: www.michellebowden.com.au
Michelle’s Update Welcome to the August issue of How to Present. This issue is packed with articles that will assist you to present with greater confidence and influence at work. There are so many things to think about when you want to be truly masterful as a presenter. So I’ve done some work for you and come up with a comprehensive Checklist for exceptional presenting. Make sure you check it out won’t you? And how about our foxy cover this month! Amish Shar is a US marketing guru who speaks everywhere! I think you’ll enjoy his tips for presenting in business. In this month’s edition I’ve shared some how your voice tells your audience more than you think, and why it’s really important that you don’t leave straight after you’ve finished speaking. PLUS.... • Lorna Patten our personal development guru explains the importance of How to ask for what you want. • US Speaker Kathleen Ronald shares How to Mine your Database. • And our reader’s favourite best selling author and small business expert Andrew Griffith is back with some great tips for how to Transform your Small business PLUS read some inspiring success stories. And the exciting free giveaway this month is your very own copy of my book Don’t Picture me Naked. Be one of the first 5 readers to WIN your prize! So grab yourself a ’cuppa’, put your feet up and have a read! And most importantly, make sure you put the invaluable advice into immediate action so you see some fast results. Happy Presenting!
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YOUR VOICE TELLS YOUR AUDIENCE MORE THAN YOU THINK BY MICHELLE BOWDEN Many people tell me that they frequently present information that find dry, boring or that’s not really in their area of expertise.! Well there’s a problem with this that may well be really obvious to you as you read this article. Vocal variety which is the loud/soft volume; high/ low pitch and fast/slow speed is what you need to make your information engaging, interesting and therefore meaningful for your audience. You may have heard me say this before: “It doesn’t matter how good your message is if no one’s listening!”! That means it doesn’t matter how good your company is, how good your products and services are, or how smart you are. If no one is listening to what you have to say – they’ll never know any of it! And your expertise will sadly be a well-kept secret. It’s critical to demonstrate enthusiasm so people will see you as committed, engaged, and meaningful. And one of the best ways to do this is to use your voice properly. directly at people and ‘see’ them.! Vocal range (highs and lows) is linked to eye contact.
Here are five tips to help you use your voice well:
5.Ask questions that elicit emotion and intrigue. You’ll find your voice is at it’s most natural when you are answering questions on a topic you love.
1.Love your content.! You can’t fake enthusiasm – it has to be authentic and from your heart or your voice will give you away. 2.Use people’s names. When you do this your vocal range will kick in naturally. 3.Tell stories and take your audience on a journey. As you present your story your voice will unsurprisingly move up and down with the highs and lows of your tale. 4.Look people in the eye.Your voice will automatically go up and down when you look www.michellebowden.com.au
Plus one more for extra value! 6. Use appropriate humour where you can – even try googling jokes that are tasteful on your topic area – try them on your friends first and then be brave – try them in your presentation. All these things will help your voice do the natural, engaging thing when you speak and will encourage your audience to sit up and listen to your message.! Happy Presenting!
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SUCCESS STORIES! GRAEME COWAN DIRECTOR, RUOK
What kind of presenting do you do at work? I’ve made around 100 presentations in the last year in a mix of community and corporate environments. I endeavour to inspire the discouraged to bounce back and thrive. In the corporate sector I show leaders and their teams how to create thriving tribes that can adapt to anything. Obviously this message is also essential to schools, families, and the community generally. Some of my messages and stories can be confronting for people, but I believe that only by discussing the elephant in the room can we stop little problems turning into big ones. What prompted you to attend Michelle's Influential Presentation Skills program? I wanted to understand the science of presenting. Michelle comes from a strong training and development background and has chosen to specialize in this field for 20 years. I wanted to understand what she considered to be the key success factors of influence after all that time of learning and doing.
Graeme Cowan is obsessed with promoting proven mood enhancement strategies for a better world. In 2000 Graeme went through a 5 year episode of depression that almost destroyed him. This experience has fuelled his passion to prevent other people from suffering in a similar way. He is best known for his award-winning BACK FROM THE BRINK book series. He is also a Director of RUOK? Day. www.GraemeCowan.com.au
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In general, what positive outcomes have you achieved from improving your presentation skills?! The more you present the more you evolve. Without doubt my capacity to connect with my audience and make my message relevant to everyone has improved greatly. My stories are now moving more people to take action. I believe Herbert Spencer - “The great aim of education is not knowledge but action.”
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SUCCESS STORIES! (CONT.) In what specific ways have your presentation skills improved since completing Michelle's training? Some of my material was difficult for me to present when I first started, because I was recalling a crisis in my past, and I often felt constricted when I told those stories. I’m not sure if it was because I was reliving a dark time of if it was because I speaking about something that no one speaks about. I think Michelle helped me understand that it wasn’t about me, and if I thought more about how I could serve my audience it might make it easier. This insight has
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somehow helped me eventually move into a more flow like state. What were your top three take aways from Michelle's program? !" First start with why – Why should people listen to you? What’s your motivation? #" How to fast track a presentation’s construction using Post It notes $" The authentic you is more powerful than
you can ever imagine
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IF YOU DON’T ASK... BY LORNA PATTEN
A simple phrase that packs a powerful punch when applied to any relationship communication dynamic. Think about it … if you don't ask for what you want - openly, honestly, clearly, directly and completely … you have no chance of getting what you actually want in response. Imagine going to a restaurant and sitting down at a table and expecting the waiter to know what you want without having to say so. Insane behaviour! Yet time and time again you expect someone else (usually one "special" person) to read your mind without you having to say what you really mean … and when "they" don't get what you mean, you get angry, upset, frustrated and then blame them! Fuelled by fear and sourced in your thinking mind, this insane behaviour goes on all the time and you may not even be aware of it. www.michellebowden.com.au
First step is to accept that it's really ok to ask for what you want. Then you need to accept that you may not always get what you want from the first person you ask. And if you are willing to let go and ask again, ask someone else, ask for help … and keep communicating, eventually you will get what you want. Again … simple and not so easy to do until you accept that you can choose to speak up and ask and share whatever you choose. The key lies in truly being responsible for the response you get and keep communicating until you are complete and you get want you want! Remember to ask for what truly matters and enjoy receiving whatever you freely give.
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WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A GREAT PUBLIC SPEAKER? BY MICHELLE BOWDEN
I believe everyone can be an exceptional presenter.! It’s just a matter of knowing what to do and doing it!! So I’ve created this excellent checklist that you can go through and use to evaluate your ability as a presenter.!
Analysis What is your topic? Who is your audience? What is your goal? What is your presentation title?
Give it a try – it will help you work out what you need to improve (and take it from me all these things are so easy to improve).! It will also show you what you are already doing well – and there are probably more things than you realise!
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Do you know how to work out what you’re trying to achieve? What does the audience need to achieve? Can you think about your presentation from your audience’s shoes?
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WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A GREAT PUBLIC SPEAKER? (CONT.)
Do you plan to tell stories that link to your content and help bring your data to life?
Design Do you know how to structure a presentation with your audience’s needs in mind? Can you design your presentation in a minimum of time? Do you deliver your opening in a way that builds rapport and motivates your audience? Do you prepare for and manage objections? Do you remember to explain the boundaries for the presentation (agenda, timings, questions, phones) so your audience is controlled and relaxed? Do you deliver compelling facts, figures, and data? www.michellebowden.com.au
Do you use a variety of presentation aids such as whiteboard, PowerPoint, video, handouts, gestures, props to help your audience hear and understand your message? Do you include a mix of visual, auditory and kinesthetic words to meet the needs of all audience members? Do you know how to build advanced linguistic devices into your script such as anaphora, tricolon, epistrophe, repetition, alliteration? Do you know the best places to pause for effect and do you plan these in advance?
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WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A GREAT PUBLIC SPEAKER? (CONT.) Delivery Do you rehearse? Do you eat well and rest yourself before presenting? Do you avoid caffeine and alcohol so you stay hydrated? Do you warm up your body, voice and mind before presenting? Is your clothing smart & appropriate? Do you groom your hair & nails? Do you smell great? Do you stand tall with a straight back? Do you allow your natural facial expressions to show? Do you look at people in the whites of their eyes so you remember them after the presentation is over?
Are you able to present with PowerPoint as an aid instead of letting the PowerPoint take over your presentation?
Do you vary your hand movements from informal relaxed gestures to more formal rehearsed movements when you speak?
Do you remember to call your audience to action and ask for what you want? Can you manage a Q&A session effectively?
Do you use your stage anchors correctly (left> right) and move seamlessly in the space? Do you allow your voice to exhibit a variety of pitch, speed, and volume? Do you sound the same presenting as you do when you speak normally?
Do you know how to manage ‘difficult’ audience behaviour? Do you stick to the allocated time? Is there anything else you do well?
Do you speak clearly? Do you minimise rambling? And are you able to stay on track with your message? Are you able to avoid filler words like “um”, “ahrr”, “you know?” Do you engage your audience? Do you tell stories that link to your content? Do you summarise key points towards the end? www.michellebowden.com.au
Do you know what to do if you can’t answer a question?
And what else? If you want to improve your ability in any of these areas grab yourself a copy of Don’t Picture me Naked at www.michellebowden.com.au – it explains all of this in detail. Or consider attending one of my award nominated upcoming Influential Presentation Skills 2-day public programs. Numbers are limited to ten (10) people so you will dramatically improve your ability to present your ideas & influence people.
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MINE THE REAL GOLD - YOUR DATABASE! BY KATHLEEN RONALD 3rd Nugget: Most are happy to give a referral or two. 4th Nugget: Touch base with these referrals. Book “discovery” calls. Book the business. 5th Nugget: Remember to send a thank you note and a 10% cheque for the referral! 6th Nugget: Repeat Nuggets 1-5 every six months.
This month I want to help those of you in sales to focus on what IS working: the rich blessings of untapped business locked within your database. I offer you these “nuggets” to help you mine that gold:
These are some ways to mine the gold from your database, but you must continue to build your relationships and service them with new content, leads and referrals for their business. Connect and add value on a regular basis, and you will be mining a warm mine, not a cold one! Go for the Gold! Be the Gold! Have the Gold!
1st Nugget: " Realise there is a gold mine in your database. And in many cases it’s untapped! 2nd Nugget: " - Make a list of those treasured clients who think you walk on water. - Email or call them. - Ask how they are doing. - Ask if they want to book a session. - Ask for a referral or two. - Ask for a quote for your website. www.michellebowden.com.au
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Kathleen Ronald is the “Queen of Business Connecting”, an unparalleled networker, internationally renowned speaker, award winning business consultant and the founder of Speaktacular. www.speaktacular.com.
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YOU
IS IT TIME IMPROVED YOUR PRESENTATION SKILLS? COME JOIN ME! Dramatically improve the way you present and influence. Attend one of my Influential Presentation Skills programs. It’s a life changing experience! Risk free - 100% moneyback guarantee. Endorsed by thousands of people from over a hundred corporations around Australia. Interactive and personalised. Facilitated by Michelle Bowden who has over 18 years experience running her programs and who has been
nominated for Educator of the Year for the last 4 years.
Learning with lots of laughter.
Absorb yourself in a generative and experiential approach. Learn something then practice, then learn something then practice…
Techniques are embedded so you remember them decades later.
Group sizes are limited to only 10 people per program. Risk free approach to a subject most people find ‘daunting’! Plenty of time for you to get personal one-on-one time with Michelle’s during the program. Address your specific, personal needs.
SYDNEY DATES: October 16-17!FULL November 13-14 December 3-4 MELBOURNE DATES: August 29-30 FULL BRISBANE DATES: October 24-25 FULL To chat about your specific needs or receive more information please email Michelle directly:
michelle@michellebowden.com.au
WINTER CHECKLIST BY ROBIN POWIS Cold weather, central heating, dry winds and dull skies play havoc with our skin, hair and mind. It's time to take better care of ourselves, those around us and the things we love. Skin - Counteract hot showers with a good body cream or butter to soothe away dry flaky skin. Don't forget to still exfoliate in winter before you moisturise. Your face moisturiser should be more intensive to nourish and hydrate tired skin. Hair - Use a hydrating mask or serum on your hair to drench it with moisture and protect it. I love Arcon Tisane Silk Hair Healing Serum. Your www.michellebowden.com.au
shampoo and conditioner should also be intensified. Pedicure - Continue your pedicures but ditch the polish to let your nail breathe. Tights and boots don't need a coloured nail, save this for spring. Use a heel balm complex to restore cracked, rough or thickened heels. I like NS - 8 available from your local pharmacy. Bath - Indulge in warm not hot baths with nourishing oils to cling to your skin. Natural Fibres - Wear merino wool, silk, cotton or cashmere to feel soft and keep warm.
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TRANSFORM YOUR SMALL BUSINESS
If you are serious about transforming your business, and I really do mean transforming it, you have to commit to spending one hour every working day, building your business. Sounds simple doesn’t it? Now this is not the hour at the end of day when you are really worn out and you start to flick a few emails around about business development. I am talking about investing the one hour per day where you feel dynamic, fired up, energised and thinking like the entrepreneur you are. It is not an hour where you check emails, take calls, talk to staff, shuffle bits of paper around and generally do little bits of nothing. It is about spending one, high quality hour, disconnected from the daily clutter, focusing on nothing but www.michellebowden.com.au
implementing smart ideas that will transform your business. Still sounds simple doesn’t it? When was the last time you did this? Most of us spend our day responding and reacting to everyone else’s demands. This is very draining, on every level. The minute you “check in” to this demanding network, you sigh and surrender. The day is gone and you have a tiger by the tail. Every year I talk to so many Small Business owners who are struggling to survive. They work hard, in fact too hard. They are smart, intelligent folk who have put everything on the line, yet years after starting their business, they are still struggling. Why? Because their business controls them, not the other way around.
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TRANSFORM YOUR SMALL BUSINESS So what kind of things do you do in that hour? Well I suggest you start by making up a long list of all the things you know you should be doing but are not. Or the things you used to do, but somehow never seem to find the time to do now. Pick a theme each month and work on it. Maybe this month you will spend one hour each day working out ways to be more engaging with your customers. Or perhaps contact existing customers to say thanks for the business. Next month might be about research, find out what other businesses like yours are doing, here and further afield. You could have a month dedicated to improving your online presence, updating your website, getting more active on the social media side of things or writing more blog posts. Believe me, once you get started you won’t struggle to find things to do. I guarantee that if you invest your best hour each day into building your business, within a very short amount of time you will be making more
money, enjoying what you are doing a whole lot more, making smarter decisions and doing all of your other work in a much more focused way. And I know that this sounds way too easy, but the reality is that very few businesses come anywhere near spending one hour a day on building their business. Those that do, get great results. The real power of this exercise comes from making it this one task a daily ritual. If you can make this one of the rituals in your business you won’t have a tiger by the tail any more, that sucker will be wearing a saddle and you will be riding it. Andrew Griffiths is an entrepreneur with a real passion for small business. He’s an international speaker, 8 time best selling author and passionate campaigner for notfor-profit organisations. www.andrewgriffiths.com.au
DON’T LEAVE STRAIGHT BY MICHELLE BOWDEN Audience members (and conference organisers) expect you to hang around for a few minutes after your presentation. When you stay after your presentation it allows a number of things to happen: Audience members can ask in-depth questions that were not appropriate to discuss during your presentation. Shy audience members will have time and space to ask you a question they need answered.
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Both you and audience members who may be interested in what you do will be able to !exchange details. You will have a chance to thank the conference organiser for including you in their conference. You will be able to meet other speakers who are speaking at the event.
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TIPS FROM A PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER AMISH SHAR BUSINESS SENSATION / KEYNOTE SPEAKER
orchestra when wanting to get your message out on a massive scale (videos, webinars, speaking on stage). 4. Touch on as many of the human senses as possible when communicating. 5. Get rid of fear by ‘just doing it.’ Get on camera OR complete a simple keynote/powerpoint presentation with a voice over. 6. Practice, practice, practice. Rehearse as many times as you want until you feel comfortable. 7. Stick with one idea and focus on ‘the cause.’ Know the goal. What does the audience need?
Entrepreneur. Mobile App Visionary. Business
Growth Master. Marketer. Mentor. Speaker. Amish Shah has set benchmarks in the internet marketing world by constantly defying the odds in every venture he pursues. He decided to share his secret to success through releasing the online course, ‘the Presentation Effect.’ He attributes the knowhow in defying the odds to consistently delivering top notch presentations. Amish is seriously impressive and the new generation of leading edge advice. his website is: www.presentationeffect.com Boy are we lucky this month! Amish generously shares his tips with us for presenting in business: 1. Combine your story with slides to create an effective delivery in order to make an impact. 2. Trigger emotions by touching on at least 3 of the 6 senses through captivating imagery, voice, messaging, through your movement when speaking on stage (see, hear, FEEL). 3. Use different mediums consistently and in www.michellebowden.com.au
8. Create a story that shows contrast, and therefore, presents strengths and weakness. 9. Help the audience understand that there are strengths to the actual problem. 10. Create story about the goal, then provide contrast, then build unity by laying the groundwork down to resolve the problem, then provide the solution, then give an concluding statement which is an action step to take: Goal --> Contrast --> Problem --> Unity --> Solution --> Conclusion. 10 Tips For Creating Effective Slides: Don’t worry about number of slides, focus on the time No ugly slides Use only a few fonts Use real pictures, not clip art Make graphics and charts cool & easy to understand One point her slide - no bullets Make sure the audience is going through a change Header is important and should always change Use few matching colors Don’t use bullets
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REHEARSE, REHEARSE, REHEARSE! BY MICHELLE BOWDEN deliver it?! Remember exceptional presenters rehearse everything!! Allow plenty of time before the presentation to rehearse and rehearse. Work back a few weeks and allocate time to rehearse with a ‘buddy’ who can give you some constructive feedback using the 4-step feedback method which outlines firstly what you think you did well and would like to improve and then what your buddy suggests you improve followed by what they believe you did effectively. Or why not rehearse with a camera and watch it back to see how you look and her what you sound like? Exceptional presenters rehearse and rehearse and rehearse!
Are you remembering to rehearse your presentation a number of times before you
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DON’T PICTURE ME NAKED Discover the Art of Influence How to Command Attention, Gain Respect and Easily Sell Your Ideas to!Anyone. This must-read business book contains!18 massive chapters across 312 pages and shows you once and for all that anyone can be an influential presenter who imparts their ideas with confidence, clarity and influence. Simply follow a proven system and have the right attitude. DON’T PICTURE ME NAKED shows you once and for all that anyone – including you! – can be a highly influential presenter who speaks with!confidence, clarity and influence. Sound hard to believe?!!It’s easy when you follow this proven system and have the right attitude.!!So are you ready to take!charge of your career and step up and finally be heard by your boss, your colleagues and your clients?
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In this book you’ll discover how to: Stop stressing over ‘what to say’ and ‘how to say it’ and!speak freely! Ensure your communication is always!highly effective Manage your nerves and!project confidence and calm whenever you speak Master Persuasion – Influence people to change their thinking and behaviour Showcase your professional expertise and!accelerate your career Command attention and!get noticed via!well developed!presentation skills Maximise your impact in meetings, conferences and general conversations Be one of the first 5 readers to email michelle@michellebowden.com.au with the words “Don’t Picture me Naked” and your postal address, and receive your very own copy of this essential business text.
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BEAUTY
CD OF THE MONTH
Bobbi Brown Makeup Remover is a gentle solution for removing long-wearing lip and eye makeup.
Learn how to be a world-class presenter - just like the people in this 10-desc CD set. A ‘musthave’ business resource for anyone serious about taking their speaking skills to the next level. www.michellebowden.com.au
BEAUTY Marc Jacobs presents a new collection of refreshing colognes of the Splash series, inspired by juicy cocktail drinks.
Countryman Headsets are comfortable, sleek, and low profile. Much better than the standard lapel mics that emit static when they brush your clothing.
BOOK OF THE MONTH
MICHELLE LOVES...
Here are some of my favourite things for you
TRAVEL MAGIC For those needing a consistently great night of sleep, try HEAROS Deep Sleep System. This unique sleep kit comes with an innovative "Blackout" sleep mask, a relaxing aromatherapy lotion and a FREE pair of HEAROS ear plugs with storage case. Sleep Better! Sleep with HEAROS! www.hearos.com
SPEAKING
GORGEOUS EYES Napoleon China Doll Gel Eyeliner is rich and fabulous and glides on effortlessly for ultimate control and comfort.
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OK, I know it’s MY book! If you are serious about really improving your business presentation skills then you need this book. Go to my website
SKIN CARE Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Creme is the skincare classic that soothes, restores, calms and helps relieve chapped, cracked, dry skin. Soothes roughness, redness and minor skin irritations.
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Photo Gallery
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