Executive Search Firm News - Making Speeches Can Help Your Career

Career Corner: A Monthly Executive Search Firm News Article Series.

Making Speeches Can Help Your Career
July 1st, 2006

Making speeches can be a powerful tool in generating new job opportunities and driving your career.

“You will discover that by giving speeches, your credibility sky-rockets. In essence, you are showcasing your talents, expertise and confidence,” says Don Straits, CEO and “Dragon Slayer” of Corporate Warriors. “Frequently, after your presentation, you will be invited by a member of the audience to speak to another group. You may also be asked to work with companies in a consulting, contract or employment role to help them achieve success. Plus, a list of your presentations on your resume is a grand-slam home run.”

You can also use speeches at local civic organizations as an opportunity to market your business or services, and to drum up new sales contacts.

The first step is to generate speaking opportunities:

• Analyze your strong knowledge points – What do you know that would be valuable to others? For example, an administrator could speak on organization skills, “Out the Old, In With the New: Organization Secrets that Will Save You Thousands of Dollars”; an executive could speak on leadership, “Go Where No Others Have Gone and Leave a Trail to Follow.”
• Locate an audience – local clubs, nonprofit organizations, community groups, church groups, social groups and trade associations are always in search of speakers.
• Approach groups with your topic, state why it is relevant to their audience and show them a summary of your experience as someone with a vast amount of information to share with the group.

Next, overcome your fears with a few simple techniques:

• Breathe deeply before you walk out in front of your audience. Breathe in through your mouth, hold the oxygen in your lungs, and then expel through your nostrils. The fresh oxygen eases the tension and makes the mind work better.
• Know your introduction; practice many times so that it flows smoothly.
• Know your material. Research, analyze, absorb and understand all the nuances of your material.
• Know your audience. What are their expectations? Education level? Demographics? You want to adjust your presentation to the needs of the audience.
• Interact with the audience. During your presentation, get out from behind the podium and interact. Ask questions, solicit comments and involve them in short give-and-take.
• Rehearse. Don’t memorize your speech. If you do, your speech will sound canned. Rather, practice as many times as possible so that you know the material and what you want to say.

Now, add pizzazz to the presentation:

• Make eye contact. As you move about your audience, make direct eye contact with different individuals. Hold that eye contact for 4 to 6 seconds.
• Voice communication – use a combination of varied pace, pitch and pauses.
• Gestures. When you practice, practice with movement.
• Touch their hearts. Capture your audience with stories from the human experience: comedy, tragedy, romance, family, friends, career success or career failure.
• Leave them begging for more. Don’t make the mistake of ending your presentation with questions. Rather, asks for questions that have some closing remarks

Executive Search Firm News Articles
Recent RSI News Center Articles :: News Center Articles Home :: :: Career Corner Article Series :: 10 Tips for Managing Stress | Body Language Says It All | Career Change | Career Search Expense Deductions | Climbing The Corporate Ladder | Customer Face Time Equals Higher Sales | Deferred Compensation Pay Regulations | Essential Career Skills | Essential Personal Skills | Essential Skills For Executives | First-time Manager | First Impressions | Great Impression in 60 Seconds | Handling A Layoff | How to Ask for a Raise | Leadership & Management | Make Yourself Relevant | Making Career Resolutions | Making Speeches Can Help Your Career | Maximize Your Potential | Networking In Cyberspace | Networking Strategies For "Reserved" Executives | Stay Or Leave? | Summer Career Strategies | Personality Key to Career Success | Technology Transforming Branding || The Career Mother | The CEO Confidence Index | Timing Your Career Move :: Management Matters Article Series :: 1 In 4 Executives Flounder In Management | 10 Tips To Create Stronger Teams | Aiming for Success | Avoid Meeting Overload | Avoiding Age Discrimination While Hiring | Business Is Personal | Climbing the Management Ladder | Dealing with Discrimination | Delegating Tasks Is Essential | Effective Management Tools | Employee Critiques | Employee Morale Dictates Profits | Employee Turnover | Global Skill Sets | How to Build Company Morale | How to Make Effective Decisions | How to Manage a Project | Inspiration Equals Success | Interview Questions To Avoid | Managing Long Term Growth | Managing The Meeting | Minimize Wasted Time | New Management Checklist | Reducing Workers Compensation Costs | Sales Executive Must Knows | Strategic Planning Requires Planning | Teach Ethics from The Top Down | Training Sales Force In Business Etiquette | Whose Needs Matter More :: Industry Related Article Series :: 401k for Generation Y 1 In 5 Workers Job Hunting 2006 Job Trends Accounting Finance Careers Agricultural Loans Strong Financial Sector Attorney Client Privilege Automation Key To Pharmaceutical Growth Banker Association Warns Of Farm Credit System Biodiesel Demands Fuel Growth in Food Markets Biofuels Use Touted to United Nations Biotech Investment Boosted Biotech Pharmaceuticals Expanding Biotech Supports FDA On Cloning Biotechnology Executives Break Oil Dependency Biotechnology Fuel Costs Build Solid Relationships With Doctors Business Lunch Etiquette Call Revenues Continue To Fall Cancer Clinical Trials Awareness Carbon Emissions Tightened Carpal Tunnel May Be Genetic Condition Chamber of Commerce & Interpol Combat Counterfeiting Chamber: Tighten Aviation Control System Commercial Real Estate Market Growth Compliance Growing Concern Construction Industry Growth Continues Construction Materials Hit By High Inflation Constructions Starts Continue Slide Consumer Debt On The Rise CPG Remains Strong Despite Gas Prices Customer Centric Marketing Customer Retailer Relationship Customer Satisfaction Linked To Customer Loyalty Programs Develop Strong Marketing Strategies Disasters Hit Insurance Industry Doctors Bring Millions To Health Centers Employer Health Care Employer Initiative Aimed At Fighting Diabetes Family Leave Act Remains Complicated Issue Financial Firms Spread Food Firms Expect Food Retailing Changes Food Industry Changes Food Makers Look to Protect Profits Food Products Industry Sees Growth In Boston Food Products Trends Food Safety Action Plan Unveiled Gas Prices Don't Slow Spending GE Introduces Smart Appliances Looks to Save Consumers Money Global Executive Call Google and Viacom Test Online Video Model Grocery Manufacturers Call For Tighter Controls Grocery Retail Sales Growth Not Keeping Pace With Inflation Grocery Sales Won't Pace With Inflation Health Care Contractors Meeting Demands Health Care Cost Concerns Health Care Mandates Health Care Outlays Health Savings Accounts Higher Salaries 2006 Homebuilding Slowdown Human Resources Homebuilding Slowdown   Industrial Biotech Wave Information Technology Industry Survey Insurance Industry Concerns International Telecommunications Study Results Internet Protocol Television Investment Portfolios Pay Off IT Executive Compensation Upswing IT Professionals Explore Late Credit Card Payments Continue Fall Law Department Spending Legal Executive Demand Legal Technology Marketing Executive Salaries Jump Mature Market Wields Spending Power Marketing PR Maximize Company Visibility Medical Device Executive Demand Medical Record Access Growing Consumer Issue Medicare Payment Cut Concerns Mexican Truckers On U.S. Roads Questioned Networking on the Net New Era Telecommunications New Retail Model: Give To Charity Patients Health Literacy Low Personalized Medicine Pharmaceutical Sales Practices Inefficient Physician Performance Measures President's Insurance Agenda Impact Real Estate 2006 Real Estate Industry Technology Real Estate Market Ready For Investors Realtors Applaud FHA Reform Retail Industry Growth Retailers Into 2006 Retirees Planning To Purchase New Homes Retirement Pension Reform Sales Executive Roles Sandwiches Billion-Dollar Business Small Business Association: Review, Reform Regulations Small Business Big Player Small Business Lucrative For Financial Institutions Successful Skill Sets Stock Market Investment Strategies Tax Reform Tops Business Priorities Technology Integration Critical To Banking Industry Technology Trends Telecommunications Reaching Home The Motorist Choice Awards Top 10 Medical Innovations For 2007 U.S. Broadband Use Soars U.S. Chamber Rebuilds America U.S. Firms Losing Ground Leading Innovation U.S. Hotel Transactions Hot Market Vaccine Market Booming Weigh Options on Home Equity Loans Workers Critical Of Wage Disparity Workplace Health Plans Help Productivity