Increasing Self-Confidence Through Public Speaking

What comes first, enough self confidence to get up on stage and talk; or getting up on stage and building self confidence through experience? Well, both...err, and neither! You see, behavioral sciences have no definite answers, only suggestions and point to ponder along the path to enlightenment.

Do you want a tad more self confidence in speaking in public? How about a tad more self confidence in general? Shh, you don't have to answer out loud. Would you like a few more psychological tips, tricks and techniques to elevate your public speaking to even great heights? If you answer YES to any or all of these questions, then this course is for you! For the price of a few cups of coffee, I am confident that you will take away several high impact and career trajectory changing ideas that, if applied with enthusiasm and positivism, will transform your way of thinking and your life!

I am humbled that you have read this far, and even more so that you are considering taking this course. Thank you in advance for your enthusiastic support!

All the best to you...

Biagio "Bill" Sciacca

Module 1

Lesson 1:  Introduction

A brief introduction to the Public Speaking Course,

• An introduction to your Facilitator

• The format of course

• What’s in it for you, when you finish

• Bring your curiosity and your enthusiasm

• Never stop learning

• Public speaking is a leadership skill

Lecture 2: Building Personal Self Confidence Through Better Speaking

Why Public Speaking is Super-Important!

• The nature of comfort zones

• Self confidence and belief

• You get better at what you teach

Lecture  3: Overcoming Your Fear Of Public Speaking

Understanding that fear does not exist, except in your mind!

• F.E.A.R

• Fear is a state of mind

• Fear is not eradicated, it is left behind

• The replacement of fear is courage

Lecture 4: How to translate fear into excitement

Turn your fear into passion

• Thoughts are things

• You can get excited about anything you desire

• Your audience translates your enthusiasm into theirs

Lecture 5: Using Pre-Visualization to transform the fear

Pre-visualization, Visualization and Affirmations to allow your speaking skills to soar

• Daily centering and affirmations

• Pre-visualization

• Visualizing just before the event

• What this process does for you beyond public speaking

Lecture 6: Plan for the Best, Prepare for the Worst

What's the worst that can happen?

• The parent of any action is a thought

• How ideas can make your shine

• Ask second and third level questions to prepare for your talk

• Don’t stop asking until there are no more answers
  

Section 2

Lecture 7: Writing Content for your Speech

Impact, not fluff!

• Over prepare! 45 minutes of material for a 30 minute talk

• Distill to 30 minutes

• Think about your slide deck (if any)

• Handouts?

• Summaries and takeaways

Lecture 8: Common mistakes when speech writing (and how to correct them)

Knowing what to avoid well before you are at the podium

• Under explaining

• Over explaining

• Not coming to a logical conclusion

• Deriving weak conclusions

Lecture 9: How To Start Your Speech - Part 1

Positive triggers to motivate your audience

• You only have 20 seconds for the audience to make a listening decision

• Begin with the end

• Tell a story

• Throw down a challenge

• Get them emotional (Angry, sad, happy, etc.)

• Humor (More on that in an upcoming lesson)

Lecture 10: How To Start Your Speech - Part 2

• Dress consideration

• Go over your bio with the person introducing you

• Walking out on stage

• Practice before hand of you can

• Never leave to chance that which can be prepared!

Lecture 11: Establishing Credibility

• When you are on the stage, YOU are the brand

• How to reduce relationship tension in public speaking

• Get your audience to do something

• Tell them WHY they should listen to you. Why are you the “expert”

Lecture 12: Making a Personal Connection

Being face to face with your audience and making them think you are talking to each of them.

• Get to know a few people before hand

• Ask the organizer for any individuals in the audience of notoriety

• Off congratulations to anyone receiving awards

• Off celebratory notes for birthdays, anniversaries, children’s accomplishments

• Get to know a few of the people in the back row. Call them out

Section 3:

Lecture 13: Making eye contact

Your eyes can make your presentation rock!

• The position of your eyes is very important

• Engage as many participants as possible visually

• If you can leave the stage, do it!

Lecture 14: Voice tonality / inflection

Use your voice as an influential tool

• Vocal variation makes your talk interesting

• Subtle increases

• Dramatic changes

• Reversal

Lecture 15:  Storytelling

Audiences love when you roll up your sleeves and show them your scars

• Plan your stories in advance

• Make sure they have a moral

• If you don’t have a story of your own, borrow (the bridge)

• Use another story to ground the first story

Lecture 16: Humor

Make your audience feel at ease (any you too!)

• Why humor works

• What to do when humor doesn’t work

• Make it appropriate

• Take chances and risks in your communications

• Self Deprecation - but only to a point

Lecture 17: Body language

Position yourself for success

• Stances that signify power

• Stances that signify acquaintances

• Facial expressions that mean business

• Formal vs. informal: you CAN vacillate

Lecture 18: Crafting Dramatic Endings

Make sure they remember

• Did you mention the end in your beginning?

• A call to action

• A story with a moral

• A question for the audience to ponder

• Homework

Section 4

Lecture 19: Are people listening to you or watching your hands?

• Be careful

• Formal vs informal: revisited

• The classic facilitation position

• Other considerations

Lecture 20: Knowing What Your Goal Is - Part 1

Begin with the end in mind

• What is a S.M.A.R.T.(T.) Goal?

Lecture 21: Knowing What Your Goal Is - Part 2

Begin with the end in mind

• How to link goals to your talk

• Break the goals down

Lecture 22: Staying Within the Limits - Relevance

Ah, but I digress! NOT!

• How not to exceed your time

• How not to exceed your scope

• What to do if you are crunched for time

Lecture 23: Silence is Golden - When to Shut Up and Listen

Shh. Listening to build credibility and rapport.

• Questions are the answer

• Listen for understanding, not responding

• Can you talk while you listen? Sure. Here’s how.

Lecture 24: Monroe’s Motivated Sequence

A great speaking planning tool

• Attention

• Need

• Satisfaction

• Visualization

• Action

Section 5:

Lecture 25: Advanced Concepts

Mind Mapping as a Planning Tool:

Thinking like your mind looks

• Mind Mapping Basics

• How to practice Mind Mapping with goals

• Alternative to Mind Mapping: Storyboarding

Lecture 26: Advanced Concepts: 4 Misconception of Public Speaking

Don’t do these

• Fear of public speaking may stop me from speaking

• I don’t need to check out the room and equipment beforehand

• Short presentations can be “off the cuff”

• You don't need to know who I am, let’s get started

Lecture 27: Advanced Concepts: 4 More Misconceptions of Public Speaking

Or these

• Using a podium to command respect

• Will I always be nervous?

• Your finish is more important than your start

• Slide decks are a distraction. Just talk!

Lecture 28:  Advanced Concepts: Differences Between Adult and Children's Audiences

Know your audiences demographics

• How children remember: Impact learning vs. spaced repetition

• Adult percentages of retention

• Synthesis and speaking: pace can be everything

Lecture 29:  Advanced Concepts: Handling Q&A and the Pain in the Ass Participant

Looking polished and professional

• The parking lot

• Tell them up front

• If you have a break, tell them then

• NEVER lose your cool, on purpose

Lecture 30:  Advanced Concepts: What Being A Better Public Speaker Can do For You

Now go get ‘em tiger...Grrrr…

• A farewell and a motivational sendoff