William Main Consulting @ConsultingMain

“The great enemy of clear language is insincerity. When there is a gap between one’s real and one’s declared aims, one turns as it were instinctively to long words and exhausted idioms, like cuttlefish squirting out ink.” – George Orwell

Steve jobs ... the master story teller and public speaker! A must watch for people who need to believe in and follow their dreams. DO WHAT YOU LOVE TO DO AND DO IT WELL! youtube.com/watch?v=1i9kcB…

TIP: Record your presentation on your smartphone and then play it back to yourself to check you are not using jargon or TLAs (Three letter Acronyms), then send it to some friends who know nothing about your subject and ask them if they understand what you are trying to say.

“To sway an audience, you must watch them as you speak.” C. Kent Wright

Speech coaching App: Cool piece of software called Ummo which picks up on overused words like “Um”, 'Err”, “Like” etc. It converts speech to text and highlights those quirks. (Costs about £2) ummoapp.com

“Designing a presentation without an audience in mind is like writing a love letter and addressing it: To Whom It May Concern.” – Ken Haemer

TIP: Have a funny remark ready if the presentation technology breaks down, for example tell your audience that Steve Jobs never allowed his employees to use PowerPoint. Always make sure you have access to a white board or flip chart and that your marker pens have ink in them.

Author Richard Bach said “Great writing is about the power of the deleted word”. Speaking follows the same principle. The secret of successful talks often lies in what is left out. “Leave space and say less”.

TIP: Remember to KISS in your presentations – Keep It Short & Simple. “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.” Albert Einstein

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, it’s the power of using your voice.” Michelle Obama from her book – « Becoming »

“Eloquence is the essential thing in a speech, not information.” Mark Twain

Albert Mehrabian says for effective and meaningful communication, Words = 7%, Tone of Voice = 38% & Body Language = 55%. He says these stats are only true if the speaker is talking with real conviction. So, it's important to be filmed/voice recorded in Public Speaking training.

“Presentation literacy is a core skill for the 21st century. It's the most impactful way to share who you are and what you care about. If you can learn to do it, you will be amazed at the beneficial impact it can have on your success in life.” Chris Anderson – TED CEO

If a heckler interrupts you SMILE, keep CALM, let him have his say and ACKNOWLEDGE his point politely. If he continues, invite him to speak with you after the presentation, NEVER get into an argument. Watch some of Barack Obama's techniques. youtube.com/watch?v=IKqhyz…

JFK's 1962 moon speech shows a very forceful right hand being used to drive home his message. That's why getting yourself filmed during presentation training is so important, as it shows if your physical movements are coherent with your words. youtube.com/watch?v=ouRbkB…

This iconic speech by Martin Luther King shows how the repetition of catch phrases like "I have a dream" and "let freedom ring" can win hearts and minds. Despite its age it still delivers a very powerful and emotional message. youtube.com/watch?v=3vDWWy…

TED Talks by Chris Anderson is a useful book to give you ideas on giving short talks that unlock empathy, stir excitement, share knowledge and promote a shared dream.amazon.fr/TED-Talks-offi… …