How To Stand When Giving A Presentation

Business Presentations How to Sell to an Audience

Business Presentations How to Sell to an Audience

Top 20 Reasons Presentations Suck and How To Fix Them

Most business presentations suck. They're boring. They're confusing. They're out of touch. This gallery explains exactly why most presentations are so dreadful, and what to do make your own presentations better.

Click here to view the slideshow.

By Geoffrey James from www.cbsnews.com]

Use Your Hands, Improve Your Presentation

Use Your Hands, Improve Your Presentation
By Tony J James
Just how important is it to use hand gestures to improve your public talk, presentation or sermon? This is one aspect of public speaking that speech trainers frequently ignore. As a result, many people sitting in the audience can find themselves distracted, amused, or even irritated by bad or inappropriate use of gestures.
Let me tell you a brief story. Just a few days ago, I was attempting to buy some eggs. A simple enough task. However, I did have a problem. My neighbour, who keeps chickens, does not speak English. I speak hardly any Bulgarian. The resulting conversation consisted almost entirely of using hand gestures! Picture, if you will the scene. A somewhat bemused Bulgarian villager watching a rather embarrassed 'crazy' Englishman acting out a virtual charade depicting a chicken laying an egg! I almost finished up buying the actual chicken, but with more gestures and hand signs eventually managed to convey that I merely needed ten eggs. Incidentally, the whole process was further complicated by the fact that the culture here is that nodding ones head indicates a negative, whilst shaking it from side to side is an affirmative gesture. Therefore, each time I thought I had made my point and 'got the nod', it really meant that he had not understood at all!
On reflection it made me think about the importance of being able to use gestures effectively in everyday speech and of course when making a presentation. Generally speaking, there are two types of gestures, a 'descriptive' gesture, (you try to emulate a chicken laying an egg, - OK, maybe that is more of a charade than a gesture, but you know what I mean!) There is also the 'emphatic' gesture, made to 'emphasize' or drive home a point.
I suppose one of the most famous examples of the latter was that used to great effect by (Sir) Winston Churchill in the Second World War when he used the 'V' for Victory sign to emphasize the importance of a positive attitude in very troubled times. It is also a classic example to use, as it demonstrates that it is important to use gestures in a correct manner. Back in the seventies, it became a global symbol for 'peace and love'. In modern times, of course the same gesture used with the hand turned the other way means something entirely different and could get you into a lot of trouble!
The way gestures are used in normal speech often varies depending on the background or culture, some groups have a reputation for making great use of hands and arms to emphasize a point, and others are more reserved and make do with an occasional shrug or nod of the head.
When speaking before an audience your use or misuse of gestures can make or mar your presentation. I once sat through a talk in which every point was accompanied by a finger wagged vigorously as if the speaker was scolding a child. As a listener, I was initially amused, then bored, then thoroughly irritated by this behaviour. Not surprisingly, this is the only feature that I recall about that particular occasion - I cannot even remember the subject of the address! I rest my case.
Hand gestures do not come naturally to everyone and like other aspects of good public speaking often need a conscious effort and practice to make them appear natural. One 'tool' that works wonders during practice sessions is... a mirror!
Your aim should be to use hand gestures only when required to describe something or emphasize a point. Overuse minimises the effect and repeated and pointless gestures can rapidly develop into an irritating mannerism.
Key Point: Each gesture you make should be clear in its meaning, a careless flap of the hand means nothing, but a precise movement can convey a great deal. Think of it like pronouncing a word correctly as opposed to making an incoherent mumble.
Next time you attend a class, lecture, sermon or other speaking engagement, make a point of watching what the speaker does, as well as listening to what he/she says, - if their body language enhances their presentation, they are making good use of gestures. If you can only remember what they did with their hands, face etc. and not what they spoke about, then this is certainly where they need to get some coaching. How about you?
Tony James, Public Speaking Coach, Author of the Be a Better Speaker system invites you to visit his ongoing informative Blog at => http://betterspeakercoach.com/publicspeaking for more free hints and tips
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tony_J_James
http://EzineArticles.com/?Use-Your-Hands,-Improve-Your-Presentation&id=5138936

Presenting Across Borders

Keep communication clear with other cultures.

If your business has expanded beyond national borders and you must speak to business contacts in other lands, watch out for miscommunication and misunderstanding. You are responsible for offering an effective presentation no matter where you are on the map. Don’t expect customers in Japan to react to your presentations the same way your customers do in Great Britain. Here are some guidelines for intercultural success:

Click here to continue.

[from toastmasters.org]

Killer Presentation Skills

4 Most Common Presentation Mistakes

4 Most Common Presentation Mistakes
By Bob Malloney
Over the last 20 years, I have trained thousands of people in presentation skills. I always require delegates to deliver a short presentation before I start training them, so that I can evaluate their starting position. I can now share with you the most common mistakes presenters make prior to training and more importantly, how you can avoid making the same mistakes!
Mistake # 1 - No clear objective
This is the most common and by far the most serious mistake. Presentations without a clear objective are doomed to failure before they have even started. The audience have come to listen to your talk for a reason. They are giving up their valuable time to attend your presentation. If you don't provide a return on investment for them, they will leave your talk dissatisfied. If no-one in the audience does anything differently as a result of listening to you, what was the point of your talk? Remember that each person in the audience is probably not interested in what you do. All they are interested in, is what you can do for them. So don't give presentations to make the audience aware of what you do, or an area of your expertise. Instead, ask yourself WHY the audience need to know about your subject and what they should do to enjoy the benefits of your proposal. This will completely change what you say and quite often, how you say it. It is no good just having a subject to talk about - you need to give yourself a mission!
Mistake # 2 - Too much detail
Giving a presentation is a scary business for the vast majority of us. One of the big fears is 'drying-up' and not having enough to say. Subconsciously, we experience an overwhelming temptation to cram our talk with lots of material. This is why so many presentations over-run their time slot. Also, you will only ever be asked to give a presentation on an area of your expertise (your job). Don't underestimate the volume of expertise you have built up over the years. Because we talk about what we do (and hopefully what fascinates us), there can be a strong urge to tell the audience all about it. Unfortunately, the audience will not be as interested in your job as you are. If they were, they would be doing your job! People cannot handle very much detail when listening to a talk. It all becomes too much for them and they switch off. Even if they didn't, what would they remember at the end of your talk? Think of the last film you watched. How much of the detail (dialogue) can you recall? The chances are you can only remember the broad outline and whether you enjoyed it or not. So, omit as much of the detailed information from your talk as possible. If the audience really need it, provide it in a handout at the end of your talk. They can handle detail when it's in writing.
Mistake # 3 - Complex language and monotone delivery
These two mistakes usually come together as a package! Many presenters deliver their messages using abstract and complex language. To deliver it fluently takes up a vast amount of processing power in the brain. There is nothing left for the emotion to come through in the voice, so we get a monotone delivery, projected in a serious voice. Think about how we communicate with our fellow human beings every day. We use very simple language and lots of emotional variety in our voice. In other words, we 'chat'. It's all very informal. Complex language delivered in a serious voice is the opposite of normal communication and is therefore alien to the audience and incredibly difficult to listen to. Think of your audience as reasonably bright 13 year old's and you'll then get the language about right, which will allow you to chat to them rather than lecture them.
Mistake # 4 - Constant visual support.
Why do we see so many PowerPoint slides in most business presentations? Because the slides have not been prepared for the audience at all. The presenter has prepared them for himself, to remind him of what he wants to say. The audience does not want to see everything you say. Supporting everything we say with the written word or images is an unnatural (and therefore alien) way of communicating. It also gives the audience a big problem. They cannot read and listen at the same time. So, resist the temptation to produce a slide for everything you are going to say. You only need to show a visual aid when words alone are insufficient to convey your message. Visual aids are a visual aid to understanding and should be shown only when the audience NEED to see them. Notes are for you, to remind you of what you want to say and are of no interest to the audience whatsoever.
In summary, have a clear objective that will give value to the audience. Spare them the detail. It may fascinate you, but they'll find your talk too hard to follow and just switch off. Use simple, ordinary everyday language and deliver your messages with emotional variety and enthusiasm. And finally, only show the audience visual aids when they need to see them - so that they can 'see what you mean'.
Bob Malloney, a personal and business skills trainer for over 20 years can help you to make a real difference to your working life, all from the comfort of your PC. Register now for a free, no obligation 7-day trial at http://www.videocoaching.tv.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_Malloney
http://EzineArticles.com/?4-Most-Common-Presentation-Mistakes&id=2927449

Presentation Do's and Taboos

The link will take you to a page giving you some tips on things that you should do and things to avoid during your presentation.

Click here to go to the page.

How to Open Your Presentation with Commanding Attention

You have a few seconds to set the tone for your presentation. A good start paves the road to success while a weak opening can slam shut the door to success.

Your opening must do three things for you. Grab attention, set the direction and establish rapport. Without their attention you have a room of non-listeners. Without knowing your direction your audience will feel lost and confused. Without rapport you might have a room of enemies.

You can grab attention with contrast, relevance and credibility.

You can set the direction by answering the question, "Why are we here?"

You can establish rapport by demonstrating empathy, common interest and confidence.

Click here to continue.

[from speechcoachforexecutives.com]

9 Jokes to Begin Open or End Presentation Meeting or Speech

Different speakers and presenters (no matter from where they are) are agreed on one thing that it seems for friendly and attractive to start your presentation with a joke or a funny quote. The only thing that should be focused in this context is that, that funny joke or funny quote should be actually really funny and should be relevant to your topic. These two things are really important and deeply connected to each other. If the joke is funny enough to make someone laugh but is not relevant to your topic and you unfortunately just speak that in front of everyone, you would look no more than a fool. Similarly, if the joke is perfectly relevant to your topic but is not funny, ultimately you would find that audience is staring at you and you again would seem like a fool. So be very careful while selecting a joke.

Click here to continue.

[from funnp.com] 

How To End A Presentation

This link will take you to a page that explains in simple detail what you should do to end your presentation.

Click here to go to the page.

The perfect length of a presentation is …

New research puts a specific time limit on the ideal presentation, but a media trainer says the answer isn’t this simple.

By Brad Phillips |

 

Click here to read.

 

[from hrcommunication.com]

How to Handle That Dreaded Question And Answer Period

How to Handle That Dreaded Question & Answer Period by Lenny Laskowski © 1998 LJL Seminars http://www.ljlseminars.com

Many presentations today are followed up with a question and answer period. To some people this can be the most exciting part of the presentation. To others it can be their worst nightmare. In fact, there are some presenters who purposely avoid the question and answer period all together. Below I have provided a 5 step approach to handling questions along with some additional tips to make your next question and answer session go smoother.

Click here to continue. Opens in PDF Format

[from lijseminars.com]

Make your presentations outstanding by breaking these 10 habits

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By Jeff Cerny

 

Takeaway: If your presentations aren’t memorable and engaging, certain habits could be standing in your way. See how to turn those habits around and achieve positive results.

Click here to read.

[from techrepublic.com]

Presentation Dos and Donts: TIPS FOR PREPARING GREAT SLIDES

Some tips for preparing slides for your presentation.

Click here to see the PDF.

Try Toastmasters

Present Like A Pro
By Andrea Cannavina

Being a professional and speaking like a professional are two very different things.
Before you can speak like a professional, you need to be certain that you believe that you are a professional. This may sound like an odd statement to some readers, however, many small businesses are successfully started and run by those who are more accustomed to working behind the scenes than in front of the microphone and camera. The fact is, no one is born with an innate ability to speak well before large groups and it is a skill best learned through experience and practice.
If you have confidence issues, stammer or are at a loss for words when someone asks you what you do, don't ignore the problem! Immediately after reading this post, visit www.toastmasters.org and search for a ToastMasters Club near you. This not for profit was started in the 1920's with the mission to assist anyone to learn better communication and leadership skills.
Learning to speak publicly is an emotional journey for most. Statistics rate public speaking as the second most common fear - surpassed only by death! Therefore, it helps to feel comfortable with those in the room. That is why ToastMasters encourages guests to sit in on an actual meeting or two - with no pressure to join or fee of any kind.
Each ToastMaster Club is run by volunteers and each Club has a different meeting schedule and for lack of a better term, style. All Toastmasters Clubs, however, have the same goal and that's to help each of their members become better communicators.
For those of you who are fully capable of standing before a live audience and comfortably presenting your topic for 45 minutes, bravo! Now keep your hands up if you have actually spoken before a live audience within the last year. Bet that one got a few of you! ;)
You would be surprised how many experienced speakers fall back on umms, ahhs and other filler sounds. Even if you can present like a pro, you should still join ToastMasters as each Club is made up a willing audience of at least 20 ears - all there to help you improve your presentation by supplying constructive feedback as part of ToastMasters' positive learning experience.
There is no cost to visit a ToastMasters Club and if you do join, there is a one time fee of about $20.00 for the manual and semi-annual (every six months) dues of around $30.00 (Club costs vary).
For your $20.00 you will receive a manual developed by ToastMasters International which is used by each of its 10,500+ Clubs worldwide. This manual contains ten (10) speech projects, each with a different objective and time requirement. For instance, the first Speech is known as the "Ice Breaker" and it is 4-6 minutes presentation about yourself. Other objectives include information organization, vocal variety, use of visual aids and so on. Upon completion of the 10th speech, you are awarded your Competent Speaker pin and are then able to move on to more specialized Advanced Courses.
Truly, if you wish a positive learning experience while you develop or hone your presentation skills, look not further than your closest ToastMasters Club!
Andrea Cannavina, Master Virtual Assistant and President/CEO of LegalTypist, Inc., helps sole practitioners, law firms and companies which service the legal industry upgrade their dictation processes to digital in order to get more done with less (less employees, less equipment and less stress)!
To learn more visit: www.legaltypist.com While there, subscribe to The Legal Connection, Andrea's newsletter, full of how to�s, reviews and insights to working virtually.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrea_Cannavina
http://EzineArticles.com/?Present-Like-A-Pro&id=378428

The Voice and Swallowing Institute - Hints For Success

There are many reasons for “giving a talk”: a computer technician gives a training session, a
sales person presents a new product, an academic physician presents a patient for review, a
professor teaches a class, an accomplished professional in any field is asked to give a guest
lecture, a job applicant is asked to give a presentation as part of the interview process, an
attorney takes a case to trial. We all know people who are
“naturals” at giving talks -- they always sound prepared, they present a topic clearly, they know
when to add humor, they hold our attention, their slides are interesting, and they don’t appear
nervous. The secret, of course, is that these “natural” presenters have invested considerable
effort in acquiring excellent presentation skills and preparing their talk. And often they are quite
nervous – they just don’t let the audience know.

Click here to read the rest.

[from nyee.edu]

Prep for Your Presentation

10 Proven Ways To Prep For Your Big Presentation in 30 Minutes

Read more: http://www.askmen.com/top_10/entertainment/giving-a-great-presentation.html#ixzz22GWGU8Ve

Presentations Phrase Ordering Activity

The aims of this activity are to help you learn about the different stages of a presentation and to learn some phrases that tell your audience where you are in your presentation.

Click here to go to the activity.

Presentation Skills Courses - Top 10 Basic Improv Rules

Presentation Skills Courses - Top 10 Basic Improv Rules
By Scott M Topper
Whether you are charged with the task of delivering a presentation at work, school, or for social purposes, there are a few factors to keep in mind.
The best presentation skills courses will teach you the following rules for improvisation, which is extremely important when speaking to the public.
1. Learn to think on your feet. This is one of the most important speaking and presentation skills to work on in general, whether you are improvising your speech or reading from prepared notes.
2. Establish rapport with your audience. You can draw in your audience by giving them facts that may relate to them personally, starting your presentation with a personal anecdote, or using humor. In presentation skills courses, students learn more about how to maintain this important line of contact and rapport.
3. Anticipate tough questions. Your biggest tool during improvisational presentations is the research that you conducted in advance. When you are researching an issue, be sure not to focus only on your own viewpoint, but read all you can about the opposing side as well.
4. Work on your timing. A good presentation will involve speaking skill combined with the right timing and delivery to inspire confidence in the audience.
5. Stand up straight to deliver your message with confidence. Imagine a string holding you up from the top of your head to the ceiling. This is taught in presentation skills courses to help speakers stand up straight, improving posture as well as vocal tone.
6. Maintain a positive attitude. Even when it seems like your views are under fire, if you stay positive, your point will come across much more palatably to your audience. Techniques to stay positive are taught in many courses in public speaking.
7. Listen to and accept other viewpoints. Show your audience that you are willing to take their views on board, and they will be more likely to listen to you in return.
8. Go in to the presentation with a clear goal in mind. Don't forget what your main aim is with your presentation. All of your statements, visual aids, and supporting facts should help support this main message.
9. Use your body language to support your message. As shown in presentation skills courses, a well-place gesture or movement can help bring your audience in closer to you.
10. Maintain a sense of immediacy. If your audience feels that your message is relevant to their lives now, it will help them stay interested.
These methods and more are covered in many presentation skills courses. By learning more about how to improvise in the real world, you can make your communication more effective not only in the workplace, but also in your day to day life.
At IMproSolutions we are passionate about helping you to overcome fear of public speaking. With courses in public speaking, including presentation skills courses, speaking and presentation skills training, and speaking skill tips. Read about our public speaking program from Author Scott Topper a three-time Emmy-nominated television show host, professional actor and speaker.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_M_Topper
http://EzineArticles.com/?Presentation-Skills-Courses---Top-10-Basic-Improv-Rules&id=7117684

Making Business Presentations Work

Professional business presentation skills can put you ahead of your competion. Learn how to overcome your fear of public speaking and give an engaging and informative presentation.

Click here for the informative information.

[from businessknowhow.com]

Public Speaking Outline Tool

An Outline for Your Informative Speech. To help you organize your informative speech, try placing your ideas and thoughts in the following outline tool:

Introduction - start your speech strong by using a "hook" or attention getter. Then give the big picture of your informative speech, your central point (or thesis statement) and then an overview of where you are going (what you will say) during your speech.

Click here to read the rest.

[from www.informativespeechtopics.info]

Pause Power: A verbal tool like no other

Written by Kevin Lerner  
         

The Pause is a verbal tool like no other. Suspense. Drama. Intrigue. Power. All promoted by the Pause. Discover how these small segments of silence can translate to large admiration and appreciation of audiences.

Click here to read.

[from presentationteam.com]

Presentation Secrets – The Power of Three

Delivering information in a series of three helps the message be more remembered.

To read about the power of three click here.

Ultimate Business Presentation Guide

The Ultimate Business Presentation Guide

—Deliver Your Message With Real Impact —

Click here to read the PDF file.



5 Tips For Better Data Presentation

5 Tips For Better Data Presentation

Most data presentations are confusing and boring. Learn the 5 tips to make your presentation clearer and more memorable.

Click here to read.

Using Graphs and Tables on Presentation Slides
By Dave Paradi, MBA, co-author of "Guide to PowerPoint"

When presenting ideas that include references to data, it can be helpful to make the point using a graph or table. These visual methods can make the point much stronger than simply describing the data. While they can be powerful methods, they also have the potential to ruin a presentation if they convey the wrong message or they confuse the audience. Appropriate use of graphs and tables is one way to enhance the message you are delivering.

Click here to continue.

[from thinkoutsidetheslide.com]

Using Charts

U SING
C HARTS
The most common mistake presenters make with visuals is overloading them, says Judith Stein, co-author of Presentations for Decision Makers (Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1996).
When using visuals, "You want the audience to look at the screen, quickly get the message, and then focus on you," she says. When viewers have to spend time reading, "you become the voice-over to a video, and lose your effectiveness as a presenter."
In visual support, Stein continues, "The operative word is 'support.' Visuals are supposed to support or aid you in giving the presentation - not replace you."

Click here to learn about charts.

Mastering Quick Presentations

Short and Sweet: Mastering Quick Presentations

You have to make a major presentation, and suddenly you're asked if you can get your message across in five minutes! Don't panic. For today's television generation, sound bites can be more powerful than lengthy dissertations. Here's how to compress your speech without losing impact.

1. Don't apologize or mention that you usually have much more time. Be confident that you can communicate in five minutes.
2. Begin fast. Start with an attention-getting statement such as, "Your job won't exist five years from now," or "In the next five minutes I want to convince you that the best action you can take is..."
3. Use a strongly visual story. Illustrate your points -- how it is now, how it will or could be -- with a story so vivid that the audience can "see" it.
4. Divide your five minutes into three parts. Present a problem, a payoff, and your point of view. This will make your short presentation a complete thought. Think about what you uniquely have to say in five minutes that will entice the audience to listen, and punctuate your speech with your point of view: "The #1 piece of advice I can give you today is..."

by Patricia Fripp

[published in INC.com]

Patricia Fripp is a San Francisco-based executive speech coach and professional speaker on change, teamwork, customer service, promoting business, and communication skills. She is the author of Make It, So You Don't Have to Fake It and Get What You Want! Fripp also served as a president of the National Speakers Association. She can be contacted via e-mail, at 800-634-3035, or through her Web site Fripp.com.

Elevator Pitch

An elevator pitch is a presentation you make to someone in a very short time.  Imagine riding in an elevator and from the time the doors close to the time someone gets to their floor you have to convince them of something.

Think of it as a very compressed presentation you have to make in under a minute.

Click here to see a slideshow on tips on how to make an effective elevator pitch.

Overcoming Fear Of Public Speaking

How to Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Did you know that public speaking is the # 1 fear in North America? The second greatest fear is death! If you have the fear of public speaking, you are not alone. You must first recognize what "fear" is. Fear is the anticipation of pain. Is your fear real or imagined?

Steps

1. Realize the source. The source of your fear is this: not knowing what will happen when you are in front of people, giving your speech or presentation. Your fear is not that you don't know your topic. It is that you don't know what will happen when you step to the podium or table.
   • The fear of being judged, making a mistake, not measuring up, getting hurt either mentally or physically can get in the way of a good performance (speech, seminar, sales presentation, etc). Remember that people in the audience really want you to succeed. Nobody is standing there hoping you'll be boring or bad. If you are coming from an authentic place, and you cover the material with clarity, you've won 3/4 of your inner battle with fear.
2. Face Down Your Fears. If you feel your knees turning to jelly out of fear, remind yourself that fear stands for False Evidence Appearing Real. Almost certainly, whatever it is that you're frightened of won't happen. If there is a real worry, for example you've forgotten an important prop, do something about it and then stop worrying. Remember, you can always rationalise yourself out of fear.
3. Learn how to enroll and engage your audience. If you haven't yet taken a professional development course on public speaking, consider finding a public speaking training course appropriate for your needs. Learning the art of public speaking can enhance your results in a boardroom, in a sales presentation, and even accelerate your climb up the corporate ladder. It is a must-skill for any executive and/or business owner.
4. Breathe Deeply. Practicing a breathing exercise before you go on will relax your body and mind. Here's one that you can do anywhere, even in the wings. Stand still and feel the ground beneath your feet. Close your eyes and imagine yourself suspended from the ceiling by a thin thread. Just listen to your breathing and tell yourself there is no rush. Slow your breathing until you can count to 6 seconds of in-breath and 6 seconds of out-breath. You'll now go on in a totally relaxed and confident mood.
5. Relax. Relaxing is the art of letting go. There are many ways to let go. You can imagine you're made of rubber and go wibbly-wobbly. Or you can sit in front of a mirror and make a horse's laugh with your lips. Why not lie on the ground and pretend you're floating? Or, just collapse on the ground like a limp doll. Letting go un-tenses the body and makes you more at ease and relaxed.
6. Make use of the wall push. The wall push was a technique used by Yul Brynner, star of the musical "The King and I". This is what you do. Stand about 18" away from a wall and place your palms flat on it. Push against the wall. As you push, your abdominal muscles will contract. As you breath out, hiss and contract the muscles below your rib cage as if you were rowing a boat against the current. Do this a few times, and you'll banish all feelings of stage-fright.
7. Recognize that can't see your nervousness. When you're walking out onto the stage toward the podium, no one knows you're nervous. Your stomach could be in knots and you feel like you're going to be sick, but you really aren't showing nervous behavior. Sometimes, with public speaking, you think that people may notice you're nervous. This makes you even more nervous. There are only a few subtle cues that show a person is nervous and they're so small, that the ordinary person wouldn't put more than 1 second into them. Don't worry so much. People don't see that extreme nervous beast inside you.
   • Bluff. Stand tall, with shoulders back and chest out. Smile. Even though you don’t feel happy or confident, do it anyway. You will look confident and your body will fool your brain into thinking it is confident.
8. Know that adrenaline sends the blood rushing to the fight/flight centres of your brain at the base of the skull. Place your hand on your forehead and press gently on the bony points. This will bring the blood to the parts of the brain that need it to present your speech best.
9. Practice. Find business organizations, networks and clubs in your area (such as Toastmasters) that can afford you the opportunity to practice. Remember to choose topics that you are already an expert on. Speaking on a topic that you are not familiar with will increase your stress, and impede on your performance.
10. Buy some recording software, and record everything on your laptop. Review it to see where you can improve. Have speaking pros attend your live presentation to give you feedback. Allow yourself the opportunity to learn more every time you go out.
11. Prepare. Make sure you know the material that you're going to cover. Make a detailed outline, and break it into basic points to memorize. Include subpoints and the title of speech. Here is an idea to help you build a speech that flows well:
    • Associate each part of the outline into a "room" in your house. Your first point is your entry room. The second point is your hallway/kitchen/living room (as you step through your house in your imagination), etc.
    • Associate each subpoint with pictures on the wall. Have the pictures demonstrate something that will help you remember your point. The more ridiculous, the better the speech will stick (as long as you don't get distracted).
    • The morning of the presentation, walk through "the house" in your mind to "decode" the memorization technique.

Video

Tips

• Remember, even the top professionals learn something new every single time they go out!
• Remember that when you are asked to speak, if you are coming from a place of service, you can't go wrong. Remember, it's not about you. It's about them - your audience. You are not the star, they are.
• Be authentic.
• If you go to school, volunteer to read the text when the class is reading textbooks.
• Don't take anything personally.
• Remember, you don't look as nervous as you feel.
• It gets easier. Practice is a good thing.
• Only you know what you are supposed to say or do so it's OK to change things during the presentation. (It's OK not to be word-for-word as your wrote it)
• Trust yourself.
• Tell yourself, "One is admired when looked upon by others."
• SMILE and try to make some jokes to cover your nervousness. The audience will laugh (but in a good way, of course!) and think that your really funny. Don't try to be humorous in serious situations such a funeral or an important meeting though, or you might get into big trouble!
• If you think the people you're talking to will judge you too much, think that they're not themselves. Think that they're you're siblings or friends. People who respect you and won't judge you if you do a mistake.

Warnings

• If you don't know the answer to a question, ask the audience if anyone knows the answer to the question (you don't have to admit you don't know it...you just ask the audience).
• Don't give a wrong or uninformed answer. Defer to a later time and ask "is it okay if I get back to you on that on the break. I want to make sure I cover the subject well, and get you the right answer".
• (avoid standing behind podiums, tables or any physical barrier between you and your audience).
• Avoid death by power point! Overuse of power point will put your audience to sleep!

Things You'll Need

• Optional materials for presentations:
• Flip Chart, Flip Chart Paper, Markers, Promotional Material, Microphone, Music Stand (to hold your notes), Lots of Water (drink lots), and confidence that you will do great at your presentation.

Related wikiHows

• How to Write a High School President Speech
• How to Write a Speech
• How to Relax
• How to Be Calm in a Stressful Situation
• How to Cope With the Fear of Fire
• How to Overcome the Fear of Injections
• How to Overcome the Fear of Marriage
• How to Not Be Afraid of Performing Music or Speeches
• How to Be a Public Speaking Superstar

Sources and Citations

• [1], Lead Trainer Paul Tobey Career Training
• http://searchwarp.com/swa17799.htm

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Be Charismatic

How to Be Charismatic

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
Have you ever noticed how some people captivate everyone they speak to? No matter what they look like or how much money they have, they can just walk into a room and instantly be the center of attention. When they leave, people think highly of them and want to emulate them. That's charisma, a sort of magnetism that inspires confidence and adoration. Like beauty, luck, and social position, charisma can open many doors in life. Unlike these other qualities, anyone can become more charismatic.

Steps

1. Relax. Charisma is all about channeling your energy to other people. If you channel stress and anxiety, people will be repelled. If you channel relaxation and tranquility, people will be attracted to your calmness, and they'll want to be more like you. Remember, many people may be just as nervous as you are....so, take a breather, relax.
2. Look confident. Charisma isn't the same thing as confidence, but appearing confident can make you more charismatic because your confidence will put others at ease and inspire faith in your abilities. Ensure you use adequate eye contact to appear confident and interested/
   • Improve your posture. Nothing conveys confidence like good posture. Stand or sit up straight, but not rigidly. When you meet someone, give a firm handshake and look the other person in the eye. (Please do not squash rings. Ouch!) Display positive body language while you're talking to someone and even when you're just waiting around. Sit facing the person or people you're talking to, uncross your legs and arms, and keep your hands away from your face. Look at ease, and don't fidget or convey nervousness.
   • Be anyone's equal. No matter to whom you are talking, treat them as an equal. If you're talking to a potential employer, a group of wealthy donors, a child, a stranger, or an attractive guy or girl, for example, don't put them on a pedestal or talk down to them. Be respectful of other people, of course, but respect them as equals, and expect that they will accept you as such.
3. Develop a warm personality. If you are stuck up, no one will feel that they have to listen to you. Enjoy the company of other people. Appreciate them for their differences and welcome them into your life.
4. Get in touch with your emotions. Research has shown that people who are generally believed to be charismatic feel emotions strongly, and they are also able to relate to what others are feeling. Ironically, in many societies, the suppression of emotion is considered desirable. Don't be afraid to feel anger, pain, sadness, or elation, and don't be afraid to communicate your emotions. Also be aware that there is a difference in suppressing your emotions and controlling how you express your emotions. It is this control which is truly desirable. Always be genuine - fake emotion rarely appeals to anyone.
5. Match your body language to your speech. Perhaps the defining characteristic of charismatic people is the ability to use body language effectively when communicating. Gesturing is important, but good gestures aren't arbitrary.
   • Watch how other people gesture. Notice how some speakers' gestures appear fake or out of sync with their message. These people come off looking shifty or uncertain as a result. Other speakers use body language exceptionally well. These are generally the more effective communicators and appear more trustworthy and competent. These people are often successful actors, religious leaders, and pundits. Look for good and bad examples of the use of body language. Pay attention, and learn.
   • Think about your own gestures. When you speak, does your body language back you up, or do you look nervous, uncaring, or bored? If you're passionate about something, do your gestures communicate this, or do you play it cool?
   • Practice in a mirror. Watch yourself in the mirror and give a speech or even pretend to hold a conversation. What are your eyes doing? How about your hands? Do you look like the shifty politician or the charismatic one? Could someone know what emotion you're trying to convey even if they couldn't hear you? Practice regularly, and make note of what you need to improve.
6. Think before you speak. Reduce the fluff and filler material in your daily communications. Try to make every word count, and think about how you're going to phrase something before you open your mouth. If you don't have something important to say, remain silent. With continuous effort, the right words will come to you more easily. It may seem surprising but limiting the amount you talk will make what you have to say more interesting.
7. Speak with conviction. Like gesturing, the way you say something can be just as important as what you say. Say something important and say it with conviction. Speak at a relaxed pace and speak clearly. From this baseline, vary your tone, rhythm, volume, and pitch to emphasize your most important words and to keep your speech interesting. Record yourself speaking, and ensure that your phrasing complements your message.
8. Treat people as they want to be treated. Make each person you meet feel as though he or she is truly important, regardless of your first impression or that person's reputation. If you make people feel good about themselves, they'll be drawn to you and hold a higher opinion of you.
   • Listen actively when others speak. Give someone your full attention when he or she is speaking to you. Make good eye contact, and nod in agreement or make brief interjections, such as "I see," or "Okay," to assure the person that you are listening and you're interested in what he or she has to say. A brief touch on the upper arm can emphasize your agreement or empathy with something someone says, and it can make the person feel connected to you.
   • Make people feel special. Learn and remember people's names, and address people by their names. Smile genuinely when you greet someone. Compliment people freely, but genuinely, and accept compliments graciously and without any fuss. Convince them that doing what you want them to do is what they want or is good for them.
   • Mimic body language of those you are conversing with, so that you can get closer to them in a non-verbal fashion.
9. Look people in the eye when you're talking with them. Don't stare them down, but don't glance around the room or look everywhere but at them. Engage them with your eyes, not just your voice.

Tips

• Developing charisma is an art. The general guidelines above can help you be more charismatic, but your charisma must come from within you and must reflect you as an individual or it will appear fake. Fortunately, everyone has the ability to be charismatic, and it simply needs to be coaxed out. Practice and take note of what works and what needs improvement.
• Don't mimic others. People with well-developed charisma have a remarkable ability not only to sway people's opinions but also to cause others to emulate their personalities and even gestures. At the same time, however, research has shown that charismatic people do not emulate other charismatic people. Their individuality sets them apart.
• Have a message. Don't be afraid to be controversial, to push the envelope. If you believe in something or feel strongly about it, communicate that in a respectful way. Your charisma will help people be accepting of your ideas.
• Take an acting class. Actors and charismatic people use the same techniques to captivate their audience and evoke emotion.
• Join a Toastmasters Club to develop communication and leadership skills with others who have similar interests.
• Put it all out there. People tend to hide thoughts and feelings from each other without any bad intentions, but everyone warms up to someone who is totally honest without being awkward or weird about it. Some things would be weird, but wording them right can be a bit charming. Of course, there are a few exceptions; don't say anything that will make people feel uncomfortable or want to leave and back away from you.
• Being charismatic isn't the same as pleasing people. Charismatic people don't care about what others think. They are just totally charming and charismatic on their own.
• Be honest. People don't like 'sheep'; people who suck up to others and are afraid to give honest opinions, on the other hand don't be frank. Charismatic people don't offend others, they give honest opinions without making someone feel bad about themselves
• Talk about other people, you may not realise how annoying and underwhelming it is when someone is unable to discuss a different subject to themselves. These people come off as arrogant, cocky, undereducated, uncaring, boring, but most of all uncharismatic. Never point this out to someone you know
• Another path to developing charisma that is truly effective is to meditate and to lighten up. Dropping seriousness and self-concern makes one more charismatic.

Warnings

• Consider your audience and be careful not to offend them. It can be good to be controversial, but being offensive can make people feel uncomfortable. Challenge, but do not offend.
• Don't try to fake charisma. You can learn charisma, but trying to be charismatic without practice can make you seem bizarre and untrustworthy.
• Success requires more than charisma. If you don't have the skills or dedication to do what you set out to do, you will most likely fall short.
• Don't be viciously critical of your audience. The people you want to connect with and influence should always get a shot of positive, real compliments to how cool they are. Criticizing individuals will make you sound petty or jealous. Save your criticism for broad issues without singling out individuals unless a public figure like a politician says something so idiotic you must speak to it - or mock it. Don't pick on the little guy. Also make any critical comments amusing if not satirical and humorous.

Related wikiHows

• How to Have Presence
• How to Be Charming
• How to Build Self Confidence
• How to Be Popular
• How to Be Nice
• How to Become a Philosopher
• How to Smile
• How to Be Romantic
• How to Have Sex Appeal
• How to Use Body Language to Keep a Guy Wanting More
• How to Spread Laughter
• How to Spread Good Cheer

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Be Charismatic. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

The Good, Bad and Ugly of Powerpoint Presentations

This link directs you to a site where they provide detailed information related to Powerpoint presentations.

Click on the title to read.

PowerPoint Presentations:The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Using Silence In A Presentation

Instead of Fumbling� Pause
Using Silence as a Powerful Tool in Speaking

The indomitable Robert Byrd, one of the true orators in the U.S. Senate, once rose in that august hall to praise the simple pause. This device, Byrd argued, was one of the essential tools used by the great Greek orators, after whom Byrd modeled his own rhetorical style. Byrd wondered aloud why public speakers did not use this device more often to raise the impact of their remarks. “Those orators,” Byrd noted, “often hesitated in the midst of a speech, not hitting immediately upon the word they wanted.” They paused deliberately, for good reason.

"There can be an art in the use of a pause. I find nothing wrong with a pause. It does not have to be filled with a you know. This phrase, like so many others,” Byrd added, “betrays a mind whose thoughts are often so disorganized as to be unutterable—a mind in neutral gear coupled to a tongue stuck in overdrive."

Fillers Weaken Our Phrases
Most speakers fill the gaps in their speech by fumbling along with meaningless filler words and phrases instead of using a simple pause. Perhaps it’s because we're uncomfortable with silence. Or because we're worried someone might, you know, jump in and, like, cut us off. Why do we use uh’s, and like’s, and you knows at all? As in, “I'm, like, uh, you know, convinced we’re on the right track.” All those fillers accomplish is to dilute what we’re saying, especially if we’re out to persuade our audience. They rob our speech of strength, often making us seem unsure or tentative.

Get Rid Of Them
Instead of using fillers, use silence. Develop your ability to use a focused pause to punctuate your speech. Here's how:

Pause when you are searching for a word. Most people “Uh” and “Uhm” when they look away to find a word. Instead, fall silent for a moment, but keep your eyes focused on the eyes of a listener. Once you get comfortable with this approach, you’ll find you think faster when you’re focused.

Take a breath. Make sure you breathe at the end of every major phrase or sentence. The benefits of this are more oxygen for your brain (good for thinking on your feet); more energy for your voice because you'll have more air for your phrases; good new breathing habits for staying cool under pressure; and finally, you’ll experience a growing comfort with pauses. Your audience will appreciate these pauses all the more if your material is complex, technical, or includes ideas that are novel or challenging.

Speak in Short Phrases. Take an article from a newspaper, for example—preferably one that advocates a point of view. An op-ed piece or editorial might do it. Better yet, pull an actual speech off the internet. Mark it where it makes sense to pause. First, whisper it/ pausing at each mark./ (Whispering is good/ because it forces you/ to use a lot of air.)/ Then, speak it out loud,/ pausing in the same way./ Do this with a different paragraph/ every day./ You will soon have taught yourself/ a valuable lesson.

Silence Is Your Ally
Pause longer than you think you should. For most of us, two or three seconds at the end of a major phrase or sentence may feel like an eternity. Our sense of time changes under pressure because, if we're speaking to a group, our rapid heart rate will convince us a second is a minute. But two or three seconds of silence is bliss to our listeners. Such a pause gives them time to digest what we've said, and lends significance and credibility to our speech.

Let us now pause to praise the pause. Silence... is golden.

[from www.totalcommunicator.com]

This

18 Tips For Killer Presentations

To be a good presenter you must practice, practice, practice.  To be an expert you must continnually learn the craft and be open to suggestions and tips.

Here are 18 tips to enhance your presentations.  Click on the title to read the article.

18 Tips for Killer Presentations

[from lifehack.org]

Presentation Tidbits

Good tidbits on presentation skills and tips.

Presentations

Presentations and reports are ways of communicating ideas and information to a group. But unlike a report, a presentation carries the speaker's personality better and allows immediate interaction between all the participants.
A report is the orderly presentation of the results of the research which seeks truth and interprets facts into constructive ideas and suggestions (Gwinn, 2007). A report is normally built on research that finds, develops, or substantiates knowledge. Once all the facts are collected, they are then organized and presented in a report designed to meet a need for specific information.
A presentation is created in the same manner as a report; however, it adds one additional element — The Human Element.
A good presentation contains at least four elements:

Click here to read the rest.

[from http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/leader/leadpres.html]

The Bar Graph

A bar graph, also known as a bar chart (could also be called a column graph), is a graph that uses bars on the common x-axis and y-axis chart.  The bars can be verticle or horizontal.   Additionally, mutliple bars can be placed to show comparisons or different values.

The bar graph is perhaps the easiest graph for the audience to understand.

Let's look at a typical bar graph:

In the above graph, the y-axis (verticle line on the left) shows values from 0 to 5, while the x-axis (bottom line) shows four categories.  The blue bars represent the value of each category.

Let's look at another bar graph:

In the above graph, the bars go from left to right.  In a bar graph, the bars can go from top to bottom or right to left, there is no difference, only preferences.  In this bar graph the y-axis shows four neighborhoods, while the x-axis shows the number of residents in thousands.  In thousands means that for example, Hilltop has approximately seven thousand residents.  Seven equals seven thousand.

Let's look at another bar graph:

In the above graph, as you can see, the shapes of the bars are cylinders.  Again, this is just a preference of the presenter.  In this graph, there are three bars for each category.  The three bars represent yes, no or undecided.  In this graph, it shows a comparison of these against each category.

Presentation Mistakes

As much as we try to focus on the success of a presentation, we should also be aware of mistakes we make during a presentation.

Click on the title below to read the article about the ten worst presentation habits.

The 10 Worst Presentation Habits

Speakers can be their own worst enemies. Here are our expert's tips on how to make a presentation sing

By Carmine Gallo
[from businessweek.com]

The Line Graph

The line graph is the most popular graph and has many purposes. 

The commonly used line graph consists of a x-axis and and y-axis.  The x-axis (which is the horizontal line) usually measures a unit of time, while the y-axis (which is the verticle line) usually measures a unit of quantity.  You should however note, the x-axis and y-axis can be applied to measure various units.

See below for the x-axis (left to right) and y-axis (top to bottom):

Also note that the y-axis can be on either side, as well as, the x-axis be on top or bottom.

Here is an example of a line graph with a single item:

This line graph shows the increase in sales due to the 2009 marketing campaign.  In the graph, the blue line represents the change in sales from quarter to quarter.  The x-axis represents each quarter, while the y-axis represents percentage from 0 to 100.

Here is an example of a line graph with multiple lines:

This line graph shows the products sales for three different products in the first quarter of 2012.  The x-axis represents the first quarter (by month), while the y-axis represents the number sold, in millions (as an example 2 = 2,000,000).

Here is an example of a line graph with markers:

In this graph you can see "markers" in the shapes of squares, diamonds and triangles.  These markers are used to show your audience distinct points in your graph.  In this graph the markers are used to show the mid-point of each category.  Corresponding on the right of the graph, the markers are explained so the audience understands which marker represents which item.

The Pie Chart

Pie Chart
A pie chart is a round graph that represents a specific item.  Each section of the pie is divided to show a certain quantity.

Examples

Using a pie chart to divide a year by quarters

This pie chart represents 2010 sales, in millions of dollars.  Each section of the pie represents a quarter.  So, in the first quarter there was $15 million in sales, in the second quarter there was $5 million in sales and so on.


Using a Pie Chart to show a division of 100%

This pie chart represents the favorite color for 100 participants.  There are five different pies, each representing a category.  In this type of pie chart, each section of the pie should equal 100%.


Using a pie chart to show characteristics of a unified (related) group

This pie chart represents the entire product line for company ABC.  Additionally, this pie chart seperates each product by their market share. 

There are many different styles available in both the usage and design of the pie chart.  Make sure you use the pie chart in a manner that shows your audience the data in an easy to understand format.

Using Sequence in a Presentation (Part 2 of 2)

This is part two of using sequence in a presentation.  To read part 1, click here.

In part one, we looked at a simple sequence of three items.  Sequencing items up to six should not be a problem.  Once you get into sequencing items above eight, you need to pay closer attention to the sequencial words so you don't confuse your audience.

Tip #1
Then/Next
Then and next are common words we can use to sequence items.  Just remember that if you want to repeat the words, you can add "and."

ex.) And then, and next...

However, the "and" comes after the original then/next.

ex.)  First, second, third, then, next, and then, and next,  Finally.

Tip #2
First, Second, Third
Using first, second and third is very common when starting out your sequence.  However, it is less common to use "fourth" and even more less common to use "fifth" and so on.

Using higher numerical expressions can be used when dealing with a step-by-step instruction or direction. 

Tip #3
Sequence in a sequence
Sometimes when you are listing of a sequence, one of the items itself may contain a sequence.  In this case, make it clear to the audience that this new sequence is beginning and when it ends.  Once you have finished that sequence, transition to the larger sequence.

The basic idea is not to confuse your audience when sequencing.

ex.)  First we will look at color, Second we will examine the price, which includes the following: first, on-line prices; second, store prices; third, wholesale price;  and lastly, retail prices.  After price, the Third part of my presentation is quality.  And Finally, my recommendations.

Tip #4
Keep your sequence in order
It is very important to keep your sequence in order.  By repeating sequencial words, you can confuse the audience.  Also make sure that once you use "finally," or "lastly," or similar word, that means that your sequence is finished. 

Using Sequence in a Presentation (Part 1 of 2)

This is part one of using sequence in a presentation.  To read part 2, click here.

One of the things that we use during a presentation is sequence.  While there are many different ways we can sequence items, there are some things you need to be aware of.

Generally in a presentation, the first thing we apply sequence to is in the contents section of our presentation.  The average number of items in the contents of a presentation is between three and six.

Lets look at a sample contents page of a presentation:

In the above slide, there are three items.  You will also notice that one of the items includes four sub-items. 

Let's look at an example of how we can voice this page to the audience using sequence.

...I have divided my presentation into three parts.  The first part is about why we should recycle, the second part will explain the types of recyclables, including, plastics, paper, metals and other types of recyclable materials.  In the final part of my presentation I provide information on how to recycle...

Highlighted are the sequencial words and phrases - first part, second part and final part.  Here we are using the words first, second and final.

Some other words used in sequence are:

Firstly, Secondly, Thirdly,
First of all, Second of all, Third of all,
Then, Next, And Then, And Next,
After that, Next comes,
Finally, Lastly

In the second part we will look at using sequence for a larger list of items and general tips for using sequence.

10 Tips on Making Stunning Presentations

10 tips on making stunning presentations

View more PowerPoint from Venugopal Reddy Challa

Presentation Zen

A quick presentation about the Zen of a presentation.

Presentation Zen

View more presentations from Fabian Crabus

Presentation Special Effects 2: Body Language

This is part two of the Presentation Special Effects:  Body Language.  You can click here to go to Presentation Special Effects 1:  Voice.

In coordination with the special effects of your voice, your body language is equally important when presenting.  Combining good vocal effects and body language together can help you captivate your audience.

Standing

While standing and giving your presentation, it is a good idea to move around a bit.  While you don't need to run around and move the entire presentation, suttle movements during your presentation is advised.  Imagine the area from the screen to the computer (podium) and approximately two to three yards from each side.  Try to encompass this area throughout the presentation.

While standing you also want to be aware of what your hands are doing.  Don't have your hands in your pocket.  Some presenters, at times, have one hand in their pocket - try to avoid this.  Also, don't cross your arms unless you are making a gesture related to the crossing of arms.

Most of all, stand tall and proud.  This will give you a look of confidence.

Posture

You need to maintain a posture of being relaxed.  I am not talking about being so relaxed you look like you are hanging out at the beach, but comfortable.  You should not be too rigid in your posture like a drill sergeant either.  It may be a good idea to look in a mirror or videotape yourself practicing your presentation.

Gestures

Many presenters utilize some form of hand gestures when presenting.  Psychologically, these hand gestures play a role in adding to the impact of the words.  Review some presenters and look at their hand gestures and you can the effect.

On the other hand, there are some gestures that we do out of habit or are unaware of.  These are the gestures you need to avoid.  Playing with jewerly or constantly picking at your ear can be quite distracting to the audience.  Again, practice while video taping or ask a friend to watch you.  You will be amazed at some of the gestures you make without realizing it.

Eye Contact

Keeping eye contact with your audience is very important.  The way to maintain good eye contact is to constantly scan the audience.  You need to make sure you include the whole audience rather than one person. 

Some people, and some cultures have difficulty in eye contact so instead of trying to look directly in their eyes, you can try to look right above or somewhere in the general area of their eyes.  But be careful not to "stare" directly at their nose or hair or other body parts or they might sense there is something awry.

Facial

Your facial expressions should mimic your words.  If your happy, why not smile?  If you are sad, why not take a moment and look down?  The facial expressions you make can let your audience know that you really mean and feel what you say.

Overall, the body language is an important special effect that plays a vital role in the presentation.  With awareness and practice, you should be able to improve your special effects with a little bit of effort.

Presentation Special Effects 1: Voice

As a presenter you need to capture the audience's attention.  Just as you watch a movie, special effects are used to captivate the viewers in addition to the storyline. 

You can have an interesting topic and good visual tools, but if you do not utilize any good special effects, you may lose the attention of the audience.

The first special effect is your voice.  Follow these guidelines:

• Vary the tempo (speed) by focusing on the rhythm of your words.  Think of a song - the melody and rhythmic patterns change.  If the song was in the same chord throughout the song, then perhaps it would not be very appealing to the ears.
• Place emphasis where needed.  You need to emphasize key words and also place emphasis in areas where you need to increase the pitch.  Visualize an equalizer.  You should reach the highs and lows in the appropriate places.
• Use pause to add drama to your presentation.  There are many reasons why pause is used.  Pause can be used to reveal something.  "And the winner is...Chris."  Pause can be used for effect.  "The tests showed...success!"  Pause can be used to seperate important/significant/exciting things.  "We have agreed to ...increase salary by 5%...and...provide two additional days of vacation...and...give everyone a bonus of...$10,000.00 for their hard work."  Also, using pause during sentences can be used for overall impact.  Pause can be short or long depending on the intended effect.
• Put emotion into words.  Do not speak in monotone.  If you are talking about something sad, your voice should lower by a few decibels, rhythm should slow and there should a sadness in the tone of your voice.  If you are speaking about something exciting, there should be an increase of a few decibels, increase in speed and you should sound excited.  Basically, our voice should reflect the emotion we are speaking about.  I have seen many presenters leave out the emotion during a presentation and the overall effect failed.

Call for Action

Many presenters want to persuade or convince the audience.  They give essential information and even lay out a roadmap to achieve a desired goal.  Their presentation skills may be sharp and have audience members motivated throughout the presentation.  Without a call for action, any initiatives may not be followed through.  Audience members may not know what their role should be.

A call for action is simply giving your audience directions.  What they need to do, what path they need to take and how to get there. 

Remember, you know what you want to achieve.  The audience is willing to follow you.  But without a call for action - no matter how motivated they are - control is lost.  The visions start to disappear.  People start to forget.

Having a call for action commands them to follow through.  It provides the necessary path to achieving the goal.  You may want to divide the call for action by groups or even individuals.  You may want to divide the tasks and the responsibilities.  And don't forget to follow-up to remind them of the goal.  Let them know the progress and motivate them along the way.