Tag Archives: Communication Skills

How to Persuade

How to Persuade: Proposals and Pitches

speaking tipsWhen presenting a proposal or a pitch, you are trying to do more than simply a speech to inform. Instead, you are trying to persuade.

As stated in the article Proposals and Pitches published by Toastmasters International, there are 4 steps to prepare a pitch:

  1. Determine your purpose.
  2. Analyze your audience and determine its needs.
  3. State your main message and support it.
  4. Urge the audience to take definite action.

For more tips, check out the below youtube video on how to deliver a great pitch.

“The key to delivering a great pitch is your ability to engage, connect and be present. While your ideas may be brilliant, you want to make sure that YOU are the one lighting up the room. “

Practice is the key to helping you improve in public speaking. Join a toastmaster club and learn how to persuade.  You are welcome to visit our Kampong Ubi Toastmasters Club if you are living in Singapore.

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How I Overcame My Fear of Public Speaking?

How To Overcame Your Fear of Public Speaking?

Fear
“Communication is the most important skill for personal and professional success. In this talk, Danish Dhamani discusses how overcoming your fear of public speaking is key to leading a fulfilling life and unlocking your true potential. Danish’s vision is to empower everyone around the world to overcome their fear of public speaking and to become a better communicator. As a first-generation immigrant, for whom English is a second language, the fear of public speaking haunted Danish throughout his early life. By constant practising and coaching, he soon realized that people are not born public speakers; instead public speaking is a learnable skill. This is what inspired Danish to create Orai, a mobile app that uses artificial intelligence to improve your speaking ability. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.”

Join Toastmasters and find a club that you like to practise your speeches in a friendly environment. You are welcome to visit our Kampong Ubi Toastmasters Club if you are living in Singapore.

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Public Speaking Tips : The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs

The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs speaking tips

The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs will change the way you give presentations.


Here are some points extracted from the video:

  • Set the theme
  • Make your theme clear and consistent
  • Create a headline that sets the direction for the meeting
  • Provide the outline
  • Open and close each section with a clear transition
  • Make it easy for your listeners to follow your story
  • Demonstrate enthusiasm e.g. extraordinary, amazing, cool, incredible, unbelievable, awesome
  • Wow your audience
  • Sell an experience
  • Make numbers and statistics meaningful
  • Analogies help connect the dots for your audience
  • Make it visual
  • Point a simple picture that doesn’t overwhelm
  • Give ’em a show
  • Identify your memorable moment and build up to it
  • Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse
  • Spend the time to rehearse
  • One more thing…
  • Give your audience an added bonus to walk away with

11 Presentation Lessons You Can Still Learn From Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs was an astonishing presenter because he informed, inspired, and entertained. Here are some of his presentation techniques:

  • Express your passion.
  • Create a Twitter-friendly headline.
  • Stick to the rule of three.
  • Introduce a villain.
  • Sell the benefit.
  • Build simple, visual slides.
  • Tell stories.
  • Prepare and practice excessively.
  • Avoid reading from notes.
  • Have fun.
  • Inspire your audience.

If you want to overcome stage fright and learn to speak with confidence, join a Toastmasters club. You are welcome to visit our Kampong Ubi Toastmasters Club if you are living in Singapore.

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How to Talk to Anyone?

How To Talk to Anyone, Anytime?  meet-new-people

Do you feel uncomfortable during conversations with neighbours, co-workers, acquaintances or even family members?

Do you want to be a better conversationalist?

Here are some tips for talking to anyone, anytime extracted from the article “Become a Better Conversationalist” written by Patricia Fry, ATMS which was published in December 2014 Toastmasters Magazine:

To Become a Better Conversationalist

  • Express a sincere interest in the other person.
  • Ask meaningful questions.
  • Give compliments.
  • Listen.
  • Avoid debates.
  • Keep up to date on current events and issues.
  • Use humor.
  • Model someone whose communication skills you admire.

“If you know how and when to speak, and when to remain silent, your chances of real success are proportionately increased.”  
– Ralph C. Smedley

How to Talk to People Without Being Awkward: 3 Quick Tips

  1. Be Genuinely Interested.
  2. Ask Open-Ended Questions.
  3. Be Willing and Open to Share.

Natural communication does not always come naturally.  A good place to practice your conversation skills is at your Toastmasters meeting. While the Toastmasters Competent Communication manual focuses on public speaking, many assignments in the Competent Leadership manual can help you practice one-on-one communication.

Practice is the key to helping you improve your communication and presentation skills.  Join Toastmasters and find a club that you like to practise your speeches in a friendly environment.  You are welcome to visit our Kampong Ubi Toastmasters Club if you are living in Singapore.

How to Talk to Anyone with Ease and Confidence

This video shows you a few conversation tricks and nonverbal tips that use both your communication and people skills to lead to amazing conversation and memorable first impressions.

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Public Speaking Tips on Hand Gestures & Body Language

Public Speaking Tips on Hand Gestures

Wonder what to with your hands when you’re giving a presentation?

public speaking hand gesturesSteve Bavister, who is a trainer with communication skills company Speak First. Steve demonstrates the best (and worst!) options for holding your hands and gesturing so that you look confident and professional and get your message across clearly.

Youtube Video: What to do with your hands when you’re presenting!

If you want to overcome stage fright and learn to speak with confidence, join a toastmasters club.

You are welcome to visit our Kampong Ubi Toastmasters Club if you are living in Singapore.

4 Essential Body Language Tips from a World Champion Public Speaker

A great presentation takes more than smart preparation and execution of verbal skills. Body language is just as important, and the 2014 Toastmasters International world champion of public speaking Dananjaya Hettiarachchi reveals his four best tips.

Gestures and Body Language

If not used properly, gestures and body language can be distracting and detract from the message of your speech. Learn to hone your speaking skills by channeling nervous energy into purposeful movement.

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A Short Comparison: Toastmasters vs Carnegie

Join Toastmasters and find a club that you like to practise your speaking skills. You are welcome to visit our Kampong Ubi Toastmasters Club if you are living in Singapore.   public speaking

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“A Short Comparison Of Public Speaking Schools Of Thought: Toastmasters & Carnegie”
by: James Masterson

As everybody will certainly agree that having the confidence to speak publicly is a valuable skill, there is much debate as to which technique of public speaking is the most effective.

Currently, the most recognized public speaking associations are Toastmasters International and the Dale Carnegie Course.

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of the principles of communication, public speaking and leadership skills. It achieves this by promoting a “learning-by-doing” program in which members move up by making presentations in the presence of certified examiners. Continue reading →

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