www.howtopresent.com.au How to Present Magazine March 2011 1

MARCH 2011

IN THIS ISSUE

Amanda Gore - Speaker of the Year 2009Speak like ObamaIcebreakersLanguage TricksUsing Music at conferencesDi!cult ConversationsDebating Tips for kids at schoolSuccess Stories

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Who is Michelle Bowden?

Michelle is an expert in influential presentation skills in business. She has run her 2-day Influential Presentation Skills program over 550 times with many thousands of people and she’s been nominated for Educator of the Year 3 years running. Michelle is one of only 25 Australian females who is a Certified Speaking Professional - the highest designation for speakers in the world. For a list of Michelle’s clients please go to: www.howtopresent.com.au

DIARYDATES

INFLUENTIAL PRESENTATION SKILLS(2-day Public Program)

Join Michelle at her next public program IN SYDNEY:

• March 22-23 (full)• April 28-29• May 24-25

BRISBANE:September 6-7

MELBOURNE:April 7-8

To register or chat about your specific needs please email:michelle@michellebowden.com.au

Michelle’sUpdateWelcome to your March issue of How to Present! A magazine designed to give you tips and techniques for presenting your ideas in business.

I turn 40 this month! Happy Birthday to me! I’m excited and terrified! To celebrate you can read the tips from one of my favourite speakers Amanda Gore (cover shot). Plus I have a luscious list of things in my Michelle Recommends section.

Want to speak like Obama? You’ll enjoy my article that breaks down some language tricks world leaders use when presenting. And using Icebreakers is something to add pizzaz to a presentation, so I’ve provided a simple guide for you. Plus you’ll enjoy my essential tips on how to use a lapel microphone and how to use music in your conferences to keep people’s energy up. And, Hugh Gyton gives us some insight into managing difficult conversations.

It’s been a huge month of conference speaking for me. I went into the recording studio again at Crash Symphony Productions and recorded another conference song. See the photos page for pics of my children who came along too and played their instruments and sang backing vocals. They loved being involved. What a hoot! And you’ll read a testimonial from one of the first conference delegates to hear and perform the song with me at a conference!

Please let me know your thoughts about the mag. Forward it to a friend and click the “like it” button to show your support.

So grab yourself a ’cuppa’, put your feet up and have a read! And most importantly, make sure you put the invaluable advice into immediate action so you see some fast results.

Happy Presenting!

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AMBER QUINN, CLINIQUE

Introduced in 1968, Clinique was the first ever dermatologist-created, prestige cosmetic brand. Today, Clinique still provides the highest quality collection of products to enhance every skin type and tone. The quality products are all meticulously tested and carefully formulated with the latest science which has made Clinique one of the leading skin care authorities in the world. All makeup and skin care products are allergy-tested and 100% fragrance free.  Clinique offers products for men and women of all ages and ethnicities. Clinique is sold in more than 130 countries.

Amber, what kind of presenting do you do at work?

Formally, I present twice a year to the cosmetic buyers from the

department stores and twice a year to the Clinique National & State teams. These presentations cover new product launches and marketing strategy for the upcoming season. Informally, I present regularly on conference calls and at weekly team meetings.

What prompted you to attend Michelle's Influential Presentation Skills program?

I had never had any formal training in presenting, I had always just had to present. Each time I presented I was fraught with nerves and I was aware that it usually showed to my audience. To try and avoid this I relied heavily on PowerPoint slides or reading from notes to make sure I got my message out, however I was aware that I was not delivering a very interesting or engaging presentation. I needed some tips on how to overcome my nerves and be better prepared to present to my audience while keeping them engaged. My manager had attended Michelle’s course and suggested it to me.

How did Michelle's program change your attitude to presenting in business?

The most important message I took away from Michelle’s course was that it’s not about me, it’s all about the audience. This has completely changed my attitude to presenting.

In general, what outcomes have you achieved from improving your presentation skills?

It has helped me to better prepare for and deliver presentations at work. I am not so anxious about pending presentations. I feel much more confident and comfortable, which is definitely contributing to success in my job. Senior members of my team have commented on my improvement and congratulated me.

In what specific ways have your presentation skills improved lately? 

After attending Michelleʼs course, I applied the skills to my presentations and felt a huge improvement in the level of engagement with my audience. I now have a structured method for preparing presentations, and many techniques to deliver my message effectively.

What were your take always from Michelle's program?

I have adjusted the language I use (WIIFM and no buts!) and the way I speak and stand while presenting. I rehearse before the presentation and I remember to focus on the audience and not on myself.

SUCCESS STORIES!

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Dramatically improve the way you present and influence.

It’s a life changing experience!

Risk free - 100% money-back guarantee.

Endorsed by thousands of people from over a hundred corporations around Australia.

Interactive and personalised.

Facilitated by Michelle Bowden who has over 18 years experience running her programs and who has been nominated for Educator of the Year for the last 3 years.

Absorb yourself in a generative and experiential approach. Learn something then practice, then learn something then practice…

Group sizes are limited to only 10 people per program.

Risk free approach to a subject most people find ‘daunting’!

Plenty of time for you to get personal one-on-one time with Michelle’s during the program.

Address your specific, personal needs.

Learning with lots of laughter.

Techniques are embedded so you remember them decades later.

SYDNEY DATES:March 22-23April 28-29May 24-25June 21-22July 19-20August 23-24

BRISBANE DATESSeptember 6-7

MELBOURNE DATESApril 7-8 (don’t delay - book now as places are limited!)

To chat about your specific needs or receive more information please email Michelle directly: michelle@michellebowden.com.au or call 0412 391170

IS IT TIME YOU IMPROVED YOUR PRESENTATION SKILLS? COME JOIN ME!

TESTIMONIAL“This was the best ever course and the most useful that I've done in a long time. The parts of the course that I enjoyed the most were the logic, implementation of learning, the supportive environment, the help with nerves - practical ways to overcome them and the skills that I will put into practice”

Kathy Johnston, Austereo

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There are two advanced l inguist ic techniques used by the great orators to motivate and inspire called TRICOLON and ANAPHORA. They will help you to embed your key messages into your audience's brains and are just as powerful today as when they were created many thousands of years ago. In fact, they're one of the major reasons President Obama is in the White House. And the best part is Iʼll show you how you can use them in your speeches too! Although this is considered to be ʻadvancedʼ itʼs actually a really simple and powerful thing to do. OK, letʼs get started…

What is a TRICOLON?

A TRICOLON is also known as the 'Rule of Threes'. No one seems to know why it is, but the human brain is able to absorb and remember information more effectively when it is presented in threes. It's something President Obama (like JFK and Martin Luther King) does frequently in his speeches. According to some commentators there are twenty two examples used in his Inauguration speech alone and fourteen in his speech in Prague (to take two speeches at random)! For example: “I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors”

What is an ANAPHORA?A technique that is often used with a TRICOLON is ANAPHORA. This is when you deliberately repeat the same word (or words) at the beginning of successive phrases or sentences. It's one of the most

commonly used rhetorical techniques and you will hear it regularly employed by politicians. The untrained speaker might think it repetitive, but it is meant to be repetitive; its repetitiveness is what makes it effective. You may know of the famous speech by Winston Churchill where he repeated the words “we shall”: “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills, we shall never surrender."S t e v e J o b s , i n h i s S t a m f o r d Commencement speech in 2005 said: You have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something your gut, destiny, life ….And of course Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech used this powerful linguistic device too. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair. I say to you today, my

HOW TO SPEAK LIKE OBAMABY MICHELLE BOWDEN

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dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state, sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.

Again, it's a favorite of President Obama's. “This is the price and the promise of citizenship. This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny. This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed.”

How do I use the TRICOLON and A N A P H O R A i n m y w o r k p l a c e presentations?Despite the fact that people like Obama and Jobs use them with such elegance, mastery and artfulness in the year 2010, itʼs pretty common for people to feel scared of using such linguistic patterns out of fear of sounding ʻartificialʼ, 'false' or 'dramatic.' So here are some tips to make it use of these powerful linguistic devices:1. Write out your presentation script (as

you would usually do)2. Then go over your script and see

w h e r e y o u c a n i n t r o d u c e t h e TRICOLON. All you need to do is look

t h r o u g h y o u r script for places you have used either a noun, a v e r b o r a n adject ive and simply add two more! (note see below examples: “challenge, real stretch, wonderful way” ; “commit ted, exc i ted and capable”; “exciting, stimulating and results focused”)

3. Next, see if you can massage the sentences so they begin with the same one or two words (note: see below: “These KPIs”; “This project”; “We pulled together”)

Example of a TRICOLON:For example, let's say you've originally written, “These KPIs are going to be a stretch for many of us.” You can see that this is a bit of a ʻnothingʼ way to express the point. To make this more inspiring, all you need to do is add two more words to the word stretch. For example: “These KPIs are going to be a challenge. These KPIs are going to be a real stretch for many of us. Yes KPIs are going to be a

HOW TO SPEAK LIKE OBAMA (CONT.)

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wonderful way for us to really achieve something this quarter!” See how it works? Awesome!

Example of an ANAPHORA:You might be going to say to your manager: “Iʼd really like to work on this project”. But if youʼre sick of asking for more responsibility and being ignored, overlooked or passed over, in fact if youʼre sick of feeling like you have way more knowledge, skills and abilities than people give you credit for, why not try the following: “This project is something Iʼd like to work on very much. This project would utilize the skills Iʼve developed in my role so far and this project would give me a chance to show you how committed, excited and capable I am at achieving results for our team.” I mean really, how could they say no?

Example of both the TRICOLON and the ANAPHORA together:

Well actually, if youʼre concentrating youʼll see that Iʼve used both the TRICOLON and

ANAPHORA in all my examples here. For fun, hereʼs one more example:Letʼs say you were going to say, “2009 was a tough year but we all pulled together to achieve a pleasing result”. Now this is OK as a statement but not very memorable. So, break the sentence into three sentences and begin with something more memorable:For example, “We pulled together even though it was a tough year. We pulled together and formed a cohesive team. We pulled together and produced a very pleasing result of 5% earnings and now weʼre set for an exciting, stimulating and results focused Q4”. TRICOLON and ANAPHORA make all of these revisions are far more memorable than the original sentences and phrases.

So the next t ime you' re g iv ing a presentation, give these two techniques a try. And notice what an improvement this makes to your overall effectiveness.p.s. why donʼt you go through this article and see where Iʼve added the TRICOLON and ANAPHORA to make this article more interesting for you? Cheeky hey?Happy Presenting!

HOW TO SPEAK LIKE OBAMA

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USING A LAPEL MICROPHONEBY MICHELLE BOWDEN

Have you ever witnessed a presenter trip over the cord of their microphone like a circus performer? Or perhaps you can recall that high pitched interference squeal or ‘spitting’ sound that are the result of poor microphone skills. Don’t let this be you! Make certain that all technical aspects of your presentation are thought through and that you have assistance standing by.

For those unaccustomed, it can be difficult to behave naturally with a microphone. Here are some tips for you...

Clip-on microphones should be clipped onto your belt, so remember to wear a belt. Remember to thread the cord through your shirt and tuck the surplus cords into your trousers or skirt. ‘God is in the detail’.

Keep the head of the microphone low enough to avoid the ‘spitting’ sounds, but high enough so it projects your voice. (Roughly 10-15 centimeters from the tip of your chin).

If you can afford it, buy your own microphone that you can clip into the battery pack provided by Staging Connection or equivalent. If possible buy the ones that make you look like Madonna - you know what I mean? You know the microphone that the members of Hi-5 use?

You get them from Countryman Associates Inc for around $950 and they have a superior sound to the little black fuzzy ones that you typically get when you hire a microphone.

Tip: If you need to, tape the microphone to the back of your head with light weight surgical tape so it doesn’t swing around as you speak!

Check where the on/off and mute buttons are. Remember to ‘mute’ the sound if you go to the toilet! I’ll never forget the embarrassment suffered by a colleague of mine when he entertained the audience with his ‘trickling sounds’!!!

You are the presenter, so you control your space. If something goes wrong with your microphone, don’t ignore it and hope it will go away. Have a back-up on hand (either another lapel microphone or a hand-held microphone) that you can use immediately.

Ensure that if there is more than one microphone, the speakers are tuned in to different frequencies.

When you are rehearsing, check where you can and can’t walk without that piercing ‘squeal’ deafening your audience.

If you have more than one

presenter, have two microphones and have the second speaker ‘wired up’ well before you end your presentation. A seamless transition from one speaker to another often goes unnoticed. A messy transition will have you looking unprofessional and disrespectful to your audience.

Let the lapel microphone do it’s job to make your performance easier for you and your audience!

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The thing that makes a conversation difficult will be different from person to person but I am sure you have experienced the lost sleep, sweaty palms, and procrastination of an impending one.

Whether it is having to cold call a very senior executive, speak with a team member whom you are going to ask to leave, or confronting a relationship issue you have with family or friends.

There are numerous ways we find ourselves faced with what we perceive as a ‘difficult conversation’.

Not only have they the potential to impact our health; increasing our heart rate, contributing to loss of sleep, increasing stress and anxiety – they also have a major impact on personal productivity as we continually run the ‘story’ in our head as to how difficult this conversation is going to be, procrastinating over it for hours, days, or even weeks. Unable to really focus on the job in hand.

Researching for this article alerted me to just how much of a direct cost not handling difficult conversations potentially can be. Workcover NSW estimates that it spends some $30million per annum on psychological injury claims.

Nationally, in 2003-4, the Australian Government reported that they made up 7% of Workers Compensation claims but the cost of psychological injury claims actually accounted for 27% of the total claim costs. Whilst exit interview research states that ‘chronic unresolved conflicts’ is decisive in more than 50% of the cases.

Maybe then there is value in being able to minimise and handle difficult conversations more effectively?

So what is going on?

A good place to start is to understand what is going on in our minds when we perceive or feel a conversation is going to be, or is, difficult. In my own experience, particularly during my early sales career, I was often frustrated at how I could worry about how a conversation might go, and its potential to be difficult. I would procrastinate for days before picking up the phone or initiating the conversation. Only to discover, on having the conversation, that the other party was delightful and it all went very easily and smoothly. ‘Difficult’

DEALING WITH DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONSBY HUGH GYTON

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was just in my head, not in theirs at all. So why might this be so?

“Can you understand my frustration, I have had to ask you three times to go to bed/clean your teeth/put your clothes in the basket/ do your homework/(insert as applicable) and you are still not listening.” “Yes I am Daddy, I heard you.”

15 years of research by the Harvard Negotiation Project has distilled it down to three key things that we are processing in our thoughts:

1 What happened or didn’t happen.

Conversations become difficult when there is a different recollection of what actually happened. This one particularly resonates for me in my role as father. With two children, aged 8 and 9, I often find myself in a frustrating loop of conversation where we disagree on the ‘facts’.

The ‘fact’ for them is that they have heard me, they are just choosing not to do. The ‘fact’ for me is that they can’t have heard me because they are not doing it.

2 How we feel. An internal dialogue around

what we are feeling, are my feelings valid? Is it OK to express my feelings? What about the other party, have I hurt their feelings or am I going to hurt their feelings if I say....? Subject to our personality, we can get so caught up in our feelings and how they may be feeling that it becomes increasingly difficult to simply state what we need to happen. The irony is that if we prefer to avoid conflicts, for example, our concern not to upset someone can actually create situations whereby we do just that – upset them.

3 Finally, your internal dialogue is struggling

with identity. Perceptions about what you might lose or gain. The impact the conversation may have on your; relationship, career, reputation, whether you are seen as competent or incompetent. This may show up at quite innocuous times. For example; have you ever been reticent to contribute during a team meeting or to put up your hand amongst a large audience to ask a question. Fear of how your question may be perceived by others stops you wanting to ‘expose’ yourself.

So what might help?

Well getting conscious as to how our own internal conversations can create the perception that a conversation is going to be difficult will certainly help. That said, some conversations will genuinely be difficult. What then?

At Conversations Matter™ we recommend you apply the INPUT formula within a positive ‘conversation climate’. By that I mean, create an

DEALING WITH DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS (CONT.)

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environment for success in terms of time and place for both parties then apply INPUT in how you have the conversation:

I How might “I” have contributed, be

contributing, to the problem. For example; an inability to say “no” can result on becoming overloaded with work and suddenly having a ‘performance’ conversation with the boss. What can “I” offer to help resolve things? Remembering that someone disagreeing with you may not be wrong – now there’s a thought.

N NOW is better than later. The longer you leave

a difficult conversation the harder it becomes. The more you allow for things to be unsaid, the more emotional, more resentful, and potentially irrational it can become.

P Talk in terms of PROOF. Be objective not

subjective, provide evidence of what’s happening compared to what should be happening.

UAllow yourself to UNDERSTAND their

positioning/reasoning. Adopt empathic listening and “seek first to understand, before being understood”. Recognise, though, that understanding is different to accepting.

T Take TIME to mutually agree on a solution.

What might we both do/say moving forward to minimise recurrence of a similar difficulty.

Finally, some difficult conversations may be of our own choosing and some may be foisted upon you. To help yourself create a conversation climate that shines more than it rains remember the words of Mahatma Ghandi “Happiness is when what you

think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony”. Wishing you more harmonious conversations than difficult ones.

Hugh Gyton is founder of Sydney-based coaching, training, and speaking business, Conversations Matter™ www.conversationsmatter.com.au

Conversations Matter™ reframes and revitalises individuals and teams around conversations that matter for enhanced performance. You can call Hugh direct: (02) 9326 6803 or email him at: hugh@conversationsmatter.com.au

Free Gift! Be one of the first five readers to email me michelle@michellebowden.com.au with the words Conversations Matter in the subject line and win your very own copy of Hugh’s book The Art of Conversation. Good luck!

DEALING WITH DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS (CONT.)

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Working out how to begin a workplace presentation can be quite tricky at times. Most people just open their meetings with the usual “Hi everyone and thanks for coming today, I know you’re busy so I won’t take up too much of your time and we’ll try and get out of here as quickly as possible”. Now I don’t know about you - an opening like that doesn’t inspire me to want to sit on the edge of my chair feeling like I can’t wait for the presenter to start enlightening me!

So how should you start? Some public speakers prefer to begin with an icebreaker. You know that joke, interesting fact, figure, or statistic that you deliver in your first 30 seconds to help your audience ‘sit up and take notice’ of what you have to say. It’s job is to ‘break the ice’.

Some examples of icebreakers...

1 in 6 people in Australia claim they are bullied. My name is (name) and I’m here today to help you understand the impact of your cultural footprint on your organisation.

In a recent survey conducted by Michelle Bowden Enterprises it was found that only 28% of audience members in meetings, presentations and conference events were moved to action by the presenter. My name is (name) and I’m here to help you work out how

to ensure people are compelled to take action after you speak.

So as you can see, the general pattern of an icebreaker is to:

1. Deliver an interesting fact, figure or statistic.

2. Announce your name.3. Tell the audience what

you are there to talk about, or what they will achieve from being in your presentation.

What do I need to know about delivering an icebreaker?

• Icebreakers are delivered at the start of your presentation.

• They must link to the content of your presentation.

• They must be delivered in a conversational way, or you’ll look like you’ve been reading a presentation skills newsletter!

You may also have realised that some icebreakers don’t always build rapport. In fact, some icebreakers actually break rapport with your audience. So be careful. I suggest that icebreakers should be used selectively because a poorly scripted or poorly executed icebreaker can ruin the best of well structured presentations. If you decide to use an icebreaker make sure you use it well.

Follow these tips and you may just engage your audience from the very start! Good luck!

BREAK THE ICE - USE AN ICEBREAKERBY MICHELLE BOWDEN

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A communications and performance expert, Amanda Gore uses the science of the heart, and the principles of emotional intelligence and neuroscience to help people achieve the results they need by getting people engaged in, enthusiastic about and aligned with corporate goals and vision. Amanda Gore is my hero – and I can’t tell you how excited I was when despite her hectic life travelling all around the world she was available to chat with me. Here are some of Amanda’s tips:

1. Engage the audience – it’s not about the ‘speech’ – it’s about a conversation between you and the audience. The audience should feel you’re speaking to them directly.

2. Continually study and research your area of interest – be the expert.

3. Maintain your humility and a desire to serve your audience - touch people’s hearts.

4. Give people what they need – talk, interact, share, and ask – keep them engaged and involved.

5. It’s all about how you make them feel.

6. Stick to around 3 or 4 key points and do what you can to embed the ideas so people remember them.

7. Use an approachable voice finishing on a high note; or a credible voice finishing on a low note, depending on your point.

8. Have fun, tell stories, laugh at yourself, tell the truth.

9. Serve your audience, have fun and be yourself!

Amanda is extraordinary, masterful and so passionate about ‘serving’ the audience. Why not remember her tips the next time you present?

TIPS FROM A PROFESSIONAL SPEAKER

How to Present - Presentation Skills Tips from the Masters features the presentation skills tips, and techniques from 14 of Australia’s top keynote speakers. You can listen to all the interviews plus much more from the inspiring Amanda Gore by purchasing your very own copy of this essential business resource.

Go to www.howtopresent.com.au website

AMANDA GOREPROFESSIONAL SPEAKER

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RECOMMENDED READING

POWERPOINT TIPSAre you using the BEST images in your PowerPoint slides?

Take a look at the istock photo website. Itʼs where you can access user-generated, royalty-free stock photos, video, audio and flash files. This is the photo library that many professional speakers use for their PowerPoint/Keynote slides.

Whether you're a designer, advertiser, entrepreneur or employee, they have millions of affordable images, vectors and clips to help you tell your story. Join the international community of artists and clients who use iStock every day. You can sign up for free.

How iStockphoto works...

1 Search for the images you want. 2 Sign up for a free account.3 Download the files using iStock Credits which you pay for using your credit card.

NOTE: Itʼs about $2.00 for a small image - which is all you need for PowerPoint. Have fun searching!

Mark Bunn is a former AFL footballer, who today is one of Australia’s most popular health and lifestyle speakers. Highly trained in both Western and Eastern health sciences (Ayurveda), his latest book, 'Ancient Wisdom for Modern Health’ combines his decade long research into the secrets of the world’s healthiest and longest living people, with thousand year-old Eastern principles of health and happiness. If you want to be healthy and happy so your productive at work, it’s a must.

www.markbunn.com.au

ANCIENT WISDOM FOR MODERN HEALTHBY MARK BUNN

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THE GIFT OF MUSIC

TESTIMONIALRay Lipscombe works in a sales role with Alsco. He is one of six cycling enthusiasts looking for other cyclists to join him as he tackles an arduous 800km (6 day) charity fund raising ride from Sydney to Melbourne. Anyone interested in cycling or sponsoring can contact Ray on 0414 677 862. Ray attended my conference presentation in February with his sales colleagues and sent through this wonderful testimonial...

“Michelle, your presentation was one of the best I have been exposed to over my 36 years in sales. It was ‘up-beat’ and engaging / the content was good / easy to follow / well constructed. Your way of involving your own experiences to make a point and show how to use your material is refreshing. Your presentation gave the sales training message a refreshing new look, that felt like I was hearing new information. The dance was a great way to make the message easy to remember. Thanks for a great presentation.”

Ever wished your conferences could be more engaging so that attendees feel like they are gaining heaps of information/knowledge and before they know it, it is time for dinner?

Try using music in the morning, lunch and afternoon tea breaks. Hire a professional sound technician from a company like Staging Connections, and plan the music to suit the mood or suggestopedia you wish to create.

For example, if you wanted to praise/reward the team for their top performance, you could try playing songs like ‘Celebration’ by Dragon.

Find main stream artists that won’t cause offense and make sure the beat to the song is close enough to the 1-beat per minute (in time with the heart beat). The more ‘out-there’ you go with your choice, the more likely you will to offend.

You’ll be surprised how much of a difference it makes to the overall ambience and energy levels in your conference room.

Note: Remember to fade ALL music out rather than simply pressing the STOP button and jolting people’s consciousness.

RAY SAYS:

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SUCCESS STORIES!KARENLEE SPILLANE CEO ROYAL CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

Karenlee Spillane is CEO of the Royal C h i l d r e n ʼs H o s p i t a l F o u n d a t i o n , Queensland.  The Foundation was established in 1986 to raise funds to support research to find faster diagnosis, better treatments and ultimately cures for some of the most devastating childhood illnesses.  Every year the Royal Childrenʼs Hospital helps more than 30,000 children from all over Queensland, parts of Australia and overseas.

What kind of presenting do you do at work?

As CEO of a leading not-for-profit organisation in Queensland, I present to a broad range of people every week. I present to people interested in supporting our programs to help sick children; to presenting concepts or plans to our management team and Board. I need to be confident, relaxed and emotive.

What prompted you to attend Michelle's Influential Presentation Skills program?

Networking leads to amazing opportunities and it was through a chance meeting at another event, that a colleague recommended Michelle’s program. It seemed to take months to find two days when I could totally commit to the program, but it was absolutely worth it!

How did Michelle's program change your attitude to presenting in business? This program has had an amazing, positive influence on my mindset.

I am much more confident and it has enabled me to become a better communicator in expressing my message a lot more effectively to my clients in everyday conversations.  

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KARENLEE SPILLANE CEO ROYAL CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL FOUNDATION

What positive outcomes have you achieved from improving your presentation skills?

I now dedicate time to every presentation. If I’m going to present well it needs to be a priority. Also, understanding the audience and how what I present can impact their actions. The audience are far more engaged when they feel they are involved in the presentation and the content highlights an opportunity for them. On a personal level, taking the time to rehearse is invaluable and time well spent.

How have your presentation skills improved since completing Michelle's training?

I now welcome the opportunity to present as I have all the skills and knowledge to deliver an inspiring message. There are some key learnings that I now use every day in my interactions with staff. Just keeping communication top of mind and ensuring I think about how the message will be heard rather than just delivering a message has made a marked difference on interactions with staff. By following the 4Mat and 13 step process I am more prepared and ready to engage with the audience. Michelle’s advice on handling nerves and the simple things like how to stand, and focusing on breathing correctly make an amazing difference to the flow of my presentations and my confidence.

What were your top three take always from Michelle's program?

1) Plan2) Rehearse3) Enjoy!

To show your support or donate to this wonderful organisation you are welcome to visit their website: http://www.workingwonders.com.au/

SUCCESS STORIES! (CONT.)

www.howtopresent.com.au How to Present Magazine March 2011 18

PARENTS CORNERPUBLIC SPEAKING SECRETS FOR KIDS

The role of the first speaker in a debate

If your child was asked to participate in a school debate and they came home asking for help - would you know how to help them?

There are three speakers on each side of a debate. In this edition of How to Present I’m going to explain the role of the first speaker in the debate.

• It is the job of the first speaker to introduce their teams’ argument.

• The team argument should summarise the arguments of your team.

• Be sure to avoid corny slogans in your argument for example: “Bad PowerPoints will give you a pain in your joints!” Save it for class debates because inter school adjudicators HATE it!  

• The first speaker should also define the team’s split. For example: "I will be speaking about the excessive use of PowerPoint in public speaking today. Our second speaker, Jade Green, will be speaking about the rising rates of apathy in conference audiences due to PowerPoint overuse. Our third speaker, Thomas Stacey, will summarise our team's case".

• If the first speaker is on the negative team their job is also to rebut the argument of the first speaker on the affirmative. If the negative team has any disagreements with the affirmative's definition, these problems must be resolved immediately. 

• If the negative team wishes to challenge the definition, they must prove to the adjudicator that they has the most reasonable definition. According to the Debating Association of Victoria, these are the three steps for a definitional challenge:

1. Clearly state the alternative definition being proposed by the Negative.

2. Give arguments to show why their definition is the most reasonable definition.

3. Rebut the arguments presented by the Affirmative.

Dos and don’ts of debating

1.Do make your team argument interesting and thought-provoking.

2.Don't make your team argument rhythmic and childlike.

3.Don't feel like you have to have one team line.

4. Alter it slightly from speaker to speaker to make it less repetitive and boring!

5.Do plan ahead with things like team splits. If two of your speakers talk about the same thing, you will look very silly and consequently be marked down by the adjudicator.

6.Do practice as a team so you each know what the other is saying.

7.Do give the split at the start of your speech, usually after team argument and definition.

Did you know? AIM has a Great Debate each year? I participated on the affirmative team last year (2010) and it was fantastic! http://www.facebook.com/album.php?

www.howtopresent.com.au How to Present Magazine March 2011 19

EARTH HOURAt 8.30 PM on Saturday 26 March 2011, lights will switch off around the globe for Earth Hour. Please get involved.

http://www.earthhour.org/

CD OF THE MONTHI’ve spent the last month compiling some amazing

interviews with 14 of Australia’s top speakers. Go to my website

CONFERENCE ROOMS

Are you looking for first class training rooms in Sydney or

Brisbane? I heartily recommend Christie Conference Centre. Go

to http://www.christieconference.com.au/

index.html

LIP COLOURGirls! Want to apply your

lipstick in the morning and not think about it again? Try

Amplified Creme Lipstick - from M.A.C Cosmetics. Of course I

LOVE ‘Show Orchid’

MICHELLELOVES

Here are some of my favourite things for you

BOOK OF THE MONTH

OK, I know it’s MY book, but if you are serious about really improving your presentation

skills then I highly recommend Don’t Picture me Naked. Go to

my website

CUP CAKESOh my goodness - check out

their flavours! YUM! http://www.cupcakesonline.com.au/

FRAGRANCEPassionate, elegant and playful -

this fragrance is fresh and motivating and will have you

feeling joyous! Brought to you by Missoni

GIFTS GALORELooking for a great corporate

gift? Lots of choices from gold medal winning olive oil to the BEST caramelised balsamic vinegar in the world! Go to

www.blackleavineyard.com.au

www.howtopresent.com.au How to Present Magazine March 2011 20

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