How to be More Engaging When Speaking in Front of a Business Group

A more engaging speech means ENGAGING your audience. Adults like to be a part of a presentation so use techniques that draw them in to it.  For example, ask your audience questions they can answer by raising their hand. Be sure to remain silent while you appear to be counting hands for just a few seconds. Audiences get annoyed when speakers ask a question and don't take a moment to acknowledge their response to it. 

Provide one-page handouts that have missing information. In other words, instead of just providing a one-sheet that has a summary of your points, replace key words or phrases with blank lines for them to fill in the information they'll get from your talk. You can also engage your audience by gradually moving about the front of the room, using anecdotes or personal stories to support your main points, and using props that you've had a chance to practice with. 

Whenever I refer to a book in my speech, I make every attempt to get that book physically and bring it with me.  Sometimes I even read from a book I'm referencing, but be sure to keep the excerpt brief. Finally, Power Point is certainly engaging and embedding videos or illustrations make your speech visually engaging.

How to Keep Nervousness from Losing Business Opportunity

If a large percentage of your potential customers are local to you, using Web 2.0 channels to market your business is only going to provide a portion of your capabilities. So if you haven't done it yet, you're going to have to add SPEAKING to your marketing platform. When I say speaking, I mean that you must seek opportunities to get in front of your prospects and get noticed. Why?  Because your competition is already doing just that.

Getting up and in front of your prospects means doing business presentations, speaking at networking event, presenting at chambers of commerce breakfasts or even doing talks at Rotary and Kiwanis Club events. And have you thought about breaking into the conference speaking circuit? Speaking to your prospects does not mean selling your products and services from the front of the room. It means proposing solutions to your potential customers' challenges to make them investigate your company and what you have to offer.

So what if you get nervous speaking in front of small or large groups?  How can you deal with your nervousness so that it doesn't interfere with business growth. Recently I was interviewed and asked questions to help those who are contemplating adding speaking their marketing plan.  The First question was, what tips did I have for someone who is nervous about public speaking and what suggestions could I offer to help them feel more comfortable and confident?

Before stepping onto a stage: Make sure that you know your material forwards and backwards; it's a huge step in tackling nervousness. When a speaker is confident with his or her knowledge of the subject matter, it helps to ease nervous feelings. Also know that your audience DOES want you to succeed. 

Just prior to a speaking event: Take time to visit the room where you will be presenting, before anyone arrives. Stand at the front of the room and envision the room full of people. Practice speaking in that room, moving about. Hearing your own voice and practicing your presentation. Successful speakers imagine their presentation before they actually give it.

During your presentation: Take deep breaths frequently. The more oxygen you get to your brain, the clearer you can think and the more relaxed your body will feel. As you look at your audience, look for familiar and friendly faces. Focus on them and look for as many of those faces as you can. Avoid looking at those with discouraging facial expressions.