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Success…It's Your V.O.I.C.E. Power
By Dee Dukehart

Let the words begin.

To be able to speak well is to give water to the thirsty, leaves to the tree, and grace to the dancer. It's a gift well worth wrapping in creative and customized packaging.

How can you be a successful presenter? It's your V.O.I.C.E. power.

As an executive, manager, sales representative and aspiring leader you will give multiple presentations during your illustrious career(s). You have to present proposals and ideas to prospects, boards, current clients, and co-workers; new policy and procedures or several cheerleading speeches to your employees; and other presentations to myriad audiences. How do you gain not only their confidence, but also their undivided attention? If you think your audience doesn't want and need story, humor and information, then you haven't been an audience member.

Have you ever been enthralled listening to a speaker? What helps you remember a point or points? What qualities do you admire in a speaker? Usually it's storytelling. Can you retell a story that someone told you from the lectern? You may not remember it completely, but its message stayed with you long after the lectern was put in the closet, the chairs folded and stored, and the lights turned out.

The first and most important part of any speech or presentation is to know your audience. Who are they and what do you have to offer them? They relate to you through your experiences, expertise and stories. Stories and personal experiences make your points stick to your listeners -this is the Velcro. Audiences recognize themselves within storytelling; therefore, relate to the subject and remember your point(s). Relationship speaking is to the audience what a mission statement is to a company: it holds it together. Stories break down the experiences that substantiate your ideas and points.

For all presenters, Organizing your speech is the same as organizing your next vacation: How are you going to get there? What are you going to do when you get there? What do you need to take with you? When do you leave? (Show up?) How much research do you have to do? And, finally, you have to get on the plane, in the car, on the train, or…on the platform. Take your audience with you, allow them to enjoy the journey the same way you do. Plan your speech the same way your plan your vacation. Organize it in six parts: 1.) Opening, 2.) Point/story, 3.) Point, story, 4.) Point/story, 5.) Q/A. 6.) Closing. Don't end on Q/A. Why? We remember best what we hear first, second best what we hear last. You are in control; you have the last word. Complete the message with your closing.

Integrate story, facts, positions, opinions, call-to-action and yourself throughout the presentation. If you had to choose between listening to an executive read his/her speech or tell you a story about an experience that validates the points, which would you chose? No contest. Paint word pictures. Give the listeners substance, sizzle and self for a well received message.

Any time you Commit to a task you focus on the outcome, its value and the benefits. The same holds true with presentations. I recommend that you commit to the outcome - the actual point of your message. Is it instructional? Is it inspirational? Is it informative? Is it persuasive? Entertaining? Or a combination of several? There are numerous facets of each message. Commit to giving your audience the most value for your vocal chords. The audience is eager to commit to listening if they know you committed time, research, time, practice, and yourself to the message.

To add that special creative voice, add humor. This is the Energy and entertainment. No, you don't have to be a comedian, you just have to allow the audience to laugh with you. Make fun of yourself and some of your experiences, and again, they will remember the point. Energize them through humor, passion and anticipation.

Movement is energy. It also helps alleviate nerves. At first the adrenaline flows and the butterflies swarm, so move around (not too much), and use your body and voice to pump up your message.

Remember, the magic number is three. Three points, max. You can have several sub points, but the magic number for the adult brain to take home is three. That's three, three points in one; one speech. Verbose versus vitality: which one resonates with you?

A few other tools and techniques that will help:

• Know the audience - How much do they know about your subject - never assume
• Know your material - don't just "wing it"
• Relax, pause and breathe - before, during and after
• Visualize yourself as successful - see the audience's positive reaction
• The audience is your Best Support Group - they want you to succeed
• NEVER apologize for any short-coming(s) - it makes the audience nervous
• NEVER read your speech - it insults your audience
• Practice, practice, practice - it makes a good speech better, and a better speech riveting

Your opening and closing are bookends: they pull the presentation full circle. You have approximately 10-15 seconds to hook your audience. Grab them early, keep them enthralled and end with your initial "grab." Remember, it's your V.O.I.C.E. power that the audience will lap up, grow to love and partner with you.

Now let the words begin.

About the Author
Dee Dukehart, author and professional speaker, works with companies who want to master their communication skills-both written and spoken-and with executives who want to empower the people they lead. Dee can be reached at (303)753-1111 or SpkrDee@aol.com for coaching, training and keynotes. Learn more at www.DeeDukehart.com.