In my last article I discussed the importance of using your face to express emotion in public speaking. In addition to your facial expression, though, is the language of your body because the latter talks as well during your presentation. The question is, ‘what is it saying?' Standing perfectly still, rigid, or immobile during a presentation (or even a speech where you are somewhat limited by the presence of a lectern) says one thing to your audience. That you are most...

So, what does it take to become a seminar speaker?

It really depends on the your target audience and the topics you choose. In one way or another, everyone has something to share and it can be spark a flourishing speaking career. Special life experiences can be of great help. You can motivate and teach your audience with your past encounters.

Having skills in any particular field can be an advantage. You can instruct and inform the public and you can get paid just by sharing...

Who Me???……."Courage quotes"

Courage is that rare quality in life that some possess and others lack. If you look for "courage quotes", you may be surprised to find out that you do possess this quality. You don't have to be Aristotle or Sir Winston Churchill to realize that courage is something we all have, but like so many other things, we do not know how to put this quality into action. You may be even more surprised to read some of these...

One of the easiest methods to guarantee a successful and effective speech is to use interesting and powerful visual aids. Unfortunately, a lot of speakers either don’t use visual aids at all or use overcrowded, difficult-to-read visuals that make it almost impossible for the audience to understand the visuals’ content, to listen to the talk, and to take down notes all together. Poorly designed visual aids compel listeners to decide between listening to the speaker or reading...

Declamation is one of the most underrated events in speech and debate. It requires discipline, research, and most importantly, a very, very good piece.

For those of you who aren't familiar with declamation, students must use a speech or portion of a speech previously given by another person -- the texts used are often political or historical speeches given by important figures in America's history. National Catholic Forensic League rules state that only junior division students...

Some of the people with whom I work are not comfortable standing at a lectern or in front of a video camera when they have to make a presentation.  So I have them sit when they first begin work on their delivery.  I ask them to imagine that they are simply having a conversation with me in a living room as they deliver their material.

Surprisingly, this technique is very effective.   I do record them but I don’t point the camera in their direction. ...

You can use acronyms and abbreviations as a form of humor during a public speaking engagement. An acronym is basically a form of abbreviation where the letters of the abbreviation form a new word, i.e., HUD means the Department of (H)ousing and (U)rban (D)evelopment. There are many acronyms and abbreviations that are universally known such as the IRS and the CIA. There are many more that are unique to your audience. All you have to do to make them humorous for use in your public...

Public speaking help is easily available nowadays as the need for presenting your viewpoint is increasing. According to a study conducted a few years ago, some people find speaking in public harder than others.

As they carry on with their presentations, some people experience increasing levels of anxiety and it doesn’t stop after their speech is over. Instead of a sense of relief, their anxiety levels increase further.

You are not alone in this as Texas Christian...

Being roasted is an honor, but you must be careful to honor people while you are roasting them during a public speaking engagement. Joke about things that are obviously untrue, then exaggerate them to make them more obvious. Or, you can outrageously exaggerate things that are true.

When choosing the butt of a roast joke or story, pick big targets. Never make fun of a small target (janitor, secretary, etc.). Make fun of the boss. He or she is still the boss after all the teasing...

One of the most annoying traits in speaking is the use of verbal tics. We have all heard them at one time or another. If you are aware that your speech is plagued with these filler words, it would be a good idea to work on eliminating them because they take away from your message: your audience loses focus on what you are saying. Instead, they begin counting!

Words likeumandahare the most obvious. They are common; they are annoying; and, they mar your speech. Other two frequently...