How virtually anyone can be an effective public speaker and give powerful presentations
From nationally respected communications guru Dianna Booher, here is a complete program for business professionals who want to take their public speaking skills to a bold new level. Writing for sweaty-palmed beginners and seasoned execs alike, Booher delivers powerful, battle-tested strategies and tips guaranteed to transform even the most fainthearted presenter into a masterful communicator.
In addition to a clear, systematic presentation of the basics that every public speaker must learn, she offers invaluable guidelines for experienced speakers who'd like to fine-tune their skills, as well as guidance on how to seamlessly integrate multimedia into a presentation. In Speak with Confidence!, readers will learn how to:
Analyze audiences on the fly and adjust speeches accordingly
"Everything you ever wanted to know about speaking to one or thousands...and a whole bunch of stuff you didn't know you need to know! Complete, thorough, concise, informative and inspiring."--Zig Ziglar, Author, Dallas, Texas
"I have given more than 2000 talks and seminars throughout the United States and Canada, and in 23 foreign countries. In my opinion Speak with Confidence: Powerful Presentations to Inform, Inspire, and Persuade is the best book ever written on public speaking! It made me immediately aware of so many things that I could do better. I refer to it continually."--Brian Tracy, Author, Victory!
Make commanding, engaging, and persuasive presentations every time
There's no way around it: If you want to succeed, you must become an effective speaker. What you can avoid are sweaty palms, stammers, and that sinking feeling that no one is listening. Speak with Confidence offers a proven, comprehensive program for business professionals who want to become dynamic presenters, command attention, and motivate as well as inform.
Communication guru Dianna Booher delivers hundreds of powerful, battle-tested strategies and tips guaranteed to transform even the most fainthearted presenter into a riveting speaker. She introduces the basics that every public speaker must learn, along with advanced techniques for fine-tuning your delivery and maximizing your impact on the audience. You'll learn how to:
Establish rapport with any audience
Exemplify executive presence
Speak with passion, persuasion, proper pacing, and punch
Organize your ideas and plan your structure quickly for optimum effect
Match your delivery style to your content, audience, and purpose
Add interactivity so that you talk "with" a group rather than "at them"
Use multimedia tools to engage your audience rather than put them to sleep
Think on your feet to handle tough question-and-answer sessions with finesse
"Translate" technical information for nontechnical groups
Apply your speaking skills to video conferencing and conference calls
Every presentation you make is an opportunity to establish an executive presence and move up in your organization. Speak with Confidence gives you the tools and techniques you need to make the most of that opportunity.
About the Author
Dianna Booher, CEO of Booher Consultants, has helped thousands of aspiring executives to become dynamic speakers through her executive communication training. Her clients include Army & Air Force Exchange Service, IBM, ExxonMobil, Lockheed-Martin, Frito Lay, GlaxoSmithKline--in fact, nearly half of the Fortune 500 companies.
Dianna Booher helps organizations to improve productivity through effective communication: oral, written, interpersonal, and organizational.
As author of 45 books, published in 24 countries, and in 17 languages, Dianna has published with Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books, Warner, McGraw-Hill, Random House, Thomas Nelson, and Berrett-Koehler. Her latest books include --Creating Personal Presence: Look, Talk, Think, and Act Like a Leader --Communicate with Confidence!: How to Say It Right the First Time and Every Time (Rev. Edition) --The Voice of Authority: 10 Communication Strategies Every Leader Needs to Know --Booher's Rules of Business Grammar: 101 Fast and Easy Ways to Correct the Most Common Errors --Speak with Confidence!: Powerful Presentations That Inform, Inspire, and Persuade --E-WRITING: 21st-Century Tools for Effective Communication --From Contact to Contract --Get a Life Without Sacrificing Your Career
Several have been selections by major book club selections.
Dianna has been interviewed by Good Morning America, The Wall Street Journal, FOX, CNN, CNBC,USA Today, National Public Radio, Dr. Laura Radio Show, The New York Times, Forbes.com, Washington Post, New York Newsday, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Bloomberg, Boardroom Reports, Investor's Business Daily, Working Woman, Industry Week, McCall's, Cosmopolitan, Success, Entrepreneur, among other national radio, TV, and newspapers.
Executive Excellence Publishing named her as one of the "Top 100 Thought Leaders" of America and one of the "Top 100 Minds on Personal Development." She holds a master's degree in English from the University of Houston.
Dianna is founder and CEO of Booher Consultants, a leading communications training firm, whose clients include 145 of the Fortune 500 organizations, plus numerous governmental agencies. Booher trainers have taken Dianna's communication principles and techniques to organizations on six continents.
Programs offered by her firm include business and technical writing, proposal writing, presentation skills, customer service communication, interpersonal skills, resolving conflict, effective meetings, listening, and personal productivity.
Booher Consultants, Inc., has received vendor-of-the-year awards from clients such as IBM and Frito-Lay for Booher's overall impact on the organization.
Dianna's clients most often describe her keynotes at major conferences and conventions this way: "So many practical ideas I can use immediately" ... "Inspiring--you make me want to go out and do it now!"..."High energy!"
She delivers very focused keynotes and programs addressing clients' specific communication issues as well as programs on personal growth topics.
Dianna has received the highest awards in the professional speaking industry, including induction into the National Speakers Association's CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame®. Additionally, Successful Meetings magazine named Dianna on its list of 21 Top Speakers for the 21st Century.
This review is from: Speak With Confidence : Powerful Presentations That Inform, Inspire and Persuade (Paperback)
Well, it's 2003 and here's another book on speaking in front of audiences. There are plenty of books on this topic, since public speaking is consistently rated the experience that frightens us most. Statistically, people would rather die in a plane crash than give a speech. Giving a speech is not terminal, so if we gain some good advice about how to do it, we can overcome the fear and become more effective.
So why this book instead of all the other fine books that have been written on the topic? I suggest there are three reasons to choose "Speak with Confidence."
When I pick up a non-fiction book, particularly a how-to book, I want to see some author credibility. What gives this person the right to write this book? Dianna Booher is a Certified Speaking Professional with a considerable amount of platform experience. "Successful Meetings" magazine identifies her as one of the Top 21 Speakers for the 21st Century. Here's a classic case of "been there, done that."
The second thing I look for in this kind of a book is readability. Is the book designed in such a way that I can grasp the concepts without getting bogged down in a morass of irrelevant and confusing text? I was delighted with the way "Speak with Confidence" is put together. There are 16 chapters to organize the information, but the tips are presented in numbered paragraphs-497 of them! Whew! The table of contents design, combined with the list of tips in the back of the book, makes it easy to get to the knowledge you want.
The third criterion for me is content. Is there good solid material? Can the reader really learn something? This book is jam-packed with information that is easily accessible and presented in a way that helps the reader. The author weaves in some of her own experiences to juice up the presentation, but these pages are filled with in-depth advice. Even after ten years in Toastmasters and 23 years speaking professionally, I found myself learning new ideas while refreshing things I knew.
Special gift idea: every up-and-coming corporate leader will benefit from reading this book and practicing the principles that are presented. Building the ability to speak before groups will put you miles ahead of your peers. This book will help get you there.
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This review is from: Speak With Confidence : Powerful Presentations That Inform, Inspire and Persuade (Paperback)
Speak With Confidence! is a very helpful book with a simple premise. As Dianna Booher clearly states in chapter 1, "Your potential to succeed in any relationship depends on your ability to communicate - whether it is conference-room talk, cafeteria talk or pillow talk." This book offers 497 proven tips for all people in a variety of situations. Applying at least a few of these useful tips and techniques can help virtually anyone to speak up with greater confidence! For example Tips 421-424 provide practical information on how to handle various distractions and regain control of interruptions.
The author begins the book by explaining why communication is so vital, especially in our digital and technological world. Booher rightly mentions, "Speaking well is a measurable skill and valuable asset..." Within chapter 1 she provides six steps to successful speaking before a group. A multitude of beneficial tips begin in chapter 2 and continue throughout the remaining 15 chapters. Speak With Confidence! organizes the various tips under chapter themes like Platform Presence, Creating Your Content, Visuals That Support, Site Preparation, Emceeing and many other headings.
This book is easy to read and the tips are straightforward. As Booher reminds us, effective speaking today is no longer a must...it is expected and it is a prized skill for the successful individual! If you are looking for a way to improve your speaking skills along with some fresh ideas, Speak With Confidence! is just the book your looking for.
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This review is from: Speak With Confidence : Powerful Presentations That Inform, Inspire and Persuade (Paperback)
Dianna Booher's Speak with Confidence is a complete guide to the basics of public speaking. She offers 497 practical tips that public speaking beginners use to overcoming their biggest fear. The author begins by addressing the most critical factor in a speaker's success-establishing likeability and credibility. The book also includes discussions related to organizing a presentation, practicing the presentation, using visual aids, and handling questions with authority.
Tip 400 is a very complete checklist for facilities and audio visual equipment. This tool is an example of the practical nature of this book. I was amused by the responses Booher provides to challenging situations. For example, she suggests that when a cell phone rings during the presentation, the presenter might want to respond humorously with a quip such as, "If that's the President (or CEO), tell him I don't have time to answer his questions or right now." Or when the microphone makes noise, come back with, "That was exactly what I said to my ex last week." Cute, but they'd have to be used at the right time with the right audience.
Overall, this is a good basic tool to help guide the skill development of someone who is new to public speaking.
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