Public Speaking for Wimps Staying Cool When Stage Fright Strikes

by Mintzer, Rich; Murdock, Peter

• ISBN13: 9781402712241
• ISBN10: 1402712243
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-06-01
• Publisher: Sterling

Summary

The super-hot "Wimps" series--which has sold in the hundreds of thousands--is back, with smart strategies for confronting and overcoming people's number one fear: speaking in public. It's unavoidable. Be it at work or at a wedding, at some point everyone will end up in a situation where it's necessary to address an audience. And most people are total wimps when it comes to public speaking. While the stage fright may neverentirelydisappear, there are simple, easy ways to conquer it--and just opening this user-friendly and visually appealing guide will instantly begin to alleviate those sweaty palms, knocking knees, and dry mouth. Rich Mintzer, a noted lecturer on public speaking, begins by discussing the reasons underlying the anxiety, and suggests effective relaxation and visualization techniques. With lots of photos to help make his points, Mintzer offers tried-and-true strategies for becoming a more polished speaker, including ideas for injecting humor into your talk, tailoring a speech to meet the needs of the audience, making eye contact, and even using appropriate gestures. Above all, he addresses the importance of planning and preparation, and emphasizes the need for practice, practice, practice. The specific tips and advice on toasts, roasts, lectures, panels, and coping with electronic media will get anyone started on a rip-roaring, crowd-pleasing performance.

Table of Contents

Preface	9	(3)
Why Is Everyone So Nervous About Public Speaking?	12	(4)
Getting Started	16	(4)
Instant Public Speaking: Ready, Get Set, Go!	20	(32)
Basic Relaxation Exercises	22	(4)
Relaxing Before You Speak	26	(4)
Visualization	30	(2)
Planning and Preparation	32	(8)
Practice, Practice, Practice	40	(11)
Suggestions for Instant Public Speaking	51	(1)
Fix-Its	52	(42)
Fear Factor: Stage Fright	54	(2)
Jump-starting Your Speech or Presentation	56	(1)
Fixing Foul-Ups: Can We Start This Over?	57	(1)
Beating the First-Impression Blues	58	(2)
Memory Mending	60	(2)
Mastering the Microphone	62	(4)
Fashion Fix-Its: Dressing for Success	66	(2)
A Priest, a Rabbi, and a Minister, or How to Use Appropriate Humor	68	(2)
At a Loss for Words	70	(4)
Better Posture and Personality	74	(4)
Props: Know When to Hold Them and When to Fold Them	78	(2)
Oh No, I Can't Stop Talking: The Use of Pauses	80	(1)
Now Say It with Feeling	81	(1)
Loosening Up: Adding Some Movement	82	(2)
Call to Arms: What to Do with Those Hands and Arms	84	(4)
Is Your Body Talking Too Much? Body Language	88	(2)
Qualms with Questions	90	(1)
Better Introductions	91	(1)
Keeping Them Awake	92	(1)
Last-Second Checklist	93	(1)
Many Types of Presentations: Putting It All Together	94	(28)
The Acceptance Speech	96	(2)
The Panelist	98	(1)
The Toast	99	(1)
The Sales Pitch: Persuasive Speaking	100	(2)
The Roast	102	(2)
As Master of Ceremonies	104	(2)
The Rebuttal or Response	106	(2)
Welcoming Speeches	108	(1)
Paying Tribute	109	(1)
Mastering the Meeting	110	(2)
Up in Front of the Class: The Informative Speech	112	(2)
Mastering Television	114	(2)
You've Got the Perfect Look for Radio	116	(2)
When They Call On You: Impromptu Speaking	118	(2)
High Drama: Onstage Performances	120	(2)
A Final Word	122	(2)
About the Models	124	(2)
Index	126