================================================= Simply Speaking...Selling Yourself & Your Ideas E-Zine Volume 1, No 4, May, 1998 Copyright, 1998 ================================================= Published by Lenny Laskowski, International Professional Speaker President of LJL Seminars (tm) 106 Schoolhouse Road Newington, CT. 06111-4002 United States Of America (860) 666-4855 or Toll Free 1-800-606-4855 Web page: E-mail: ------------------------------------------------------------- In this issue: 1. 4 Common Ways to Remember Material 2. Seminars, Workshops, Consultation services 3. Lenny's keynote speeches 4. Lenny's books, videotapes, audiotapes & booklets 5. How to request more information about Lenny's services 6. How to Subscribe / Unsubscribe ---------------------------------------------------------------- * FREE Monthly Speaking Tips - May, 1998 * ---------------------------------------------------------------- 4 Common Ways to Remember Material - Part II by Lenny Laskowski © 1998 LJL Seminars ------------------------------------------------------------------ Remembering speeches can be a very intimidating experience. There are many ways one can remember material and I would like to focus on what I believe are the 4 Common Ways to Remember Material. 1. Memorizing 2. Reading from complete text 3. Using notes 4. Using visual aids as notes In the last issue, I addressed the first two items, memorizing and reading from complete text. In this issue (Part II Remembering Material), I will be discussing how to use notes and using visual aids as notes. The most common technique for remembering material is through the use of notes. Using notes is better than reading since the speaker can have normal voice inflection and make more effective eye contact. If your notes are on the lectern, you probably won't move very far from them. If notes are in your hand, you probably won't gesture very much either. Below are some suggestions to consider if you decide to use notes: USING NOTES: 1. Use note cards. Include quotes, statistics and lists you may need. VERY IMPORTANT: Number your note cards! (Just in case you drop them) 2. Don't put too much information on each note card or else you will find yourself reading them. Put a few key words or phrases. 3. Leave your notes on the lectern or table and move away from them occasionally. Don't be afraid to move away occasionally and get out of your comfort zone. Too many speakers use the lectern to hide behind and this restricts the effective use of their entire body. 4. Practice using your note cards. If you find yourself reading your note cards too much you probably have too much information on the cards. All you need is a few short phrases or words, even pictures to "jog" your memory. 5. Use pictures of picture maps to guide you. Pictures help you "visualize" the key points of your speech. Use mental pictures as well to tell the story in your head. This will some take some creativity, but will be worth the effort. USING VISUAL AIDS AS NOTES Simple visual aids can effectively serve as headings and subheadings. Speak to the heading. Say what you want to say and move on. If you forget something, that's okay; the audience would never know unless you tell them. Practice creating just a few meaningful headings to use and practice using only these headings as your "cues". This will take practice, but practicing using only these few words will force you to better internalize your speech. This has four important advantages: 1. You don't have to worry about what you are going to say next. Your visual aid provides your cue of your next major idea. All you need to do between ideas is to use an effective transitional statement. (See Volume 1, No. 2 issue on the use of transitions) 2. Having only a few key words on your visual aids allows you to move around the room without the need or feeling you need to go back to your notes. In fact, most inexperienced speakers don't want to move around. Movement helps you to relax and adds energy to your presentations. Movement also allows the listeners to follow you and pay closer attention to you and therefore your message. Plan your movements during your rehearsals. Decide where in your presentation it makes sense to move. If you find yourself starting to sway, take one or two steps and stop again, standing evenly on both feet. Keep you weight evenly distributed on both feet. This will help you from swaying. 3. You can have good eye contact with your audience. You can look at your audience all the time while speaking - except for that brief moment you look at your visual aid. But that's okay since the audience will probably follow you and also look at the visual aid. This will help the audience to "see" your message as well as "hear" your message. The more you have rehearsed and the more you are familiar with your visual aids, the easier this becomes. 4. Your audience will feel comfortable that you are on your planned track. Well designed visual aids shows you have a plan and have properly prepared and you are also following your plan. Keep in mind, your visual aids do not have to be only words charts. They can contain diagrams, pictures or even graphs. NOTE: When you use visual aids, always introduce it "before" you show it! As I mentioned earlier, plan and rehearse your transitions. You can even use the "looking back / looking forward" transition: Example: "Now that we've seen the ... let's now look at ...." Regardless of which method you choose top use to remember your material, nothing will help you more than proper planning and preparation. Remember to: "Prepare..Prepare...Prepare" ****** END OF FREE SPEAKING TIPS ARTICLE*********************** NEXT ISSUE - 6 Major Speaking Faults ======================================================================== 2. Seminars, Workshops, Consultation Services Link to on-line seminars: =============================================================== 3. Lenny's keynote speeches Link to on-line keynotes: =============================================================== 4. Lenny's books, videotapes, audiotapes & booklets Link to on-line catalog: =============================================================== 5. Where to get more information Lenny's services. Feel free to request information about Lenny's seminars, workshops & keynotes. If you would like a formal proposal, please E-mail your request to: Sales@LJLSeminars.com or mail to the address below: Lenny Laskowski, International Professional Speaker President of LJL Seminars (tm) 106 Schoolhouse Road Newington, CT. 06111-4002 United States of America (860) 666-4855 or Toll Free 1-800-606-4855 =============================================================== ******* You can earn 10% commissions ******************** =============================================================== You can also earn 10% commissions on any leads you send my way. Provide me the name, address & telephone number of those you know who might be able to use my services, make the initial call with them and tell them I will be contacting them and send me an E-mail that you have done so. When I contact them and if we result in doing business with them I will mail you a check for 10% of the total contract just for referring us. ============================================================== 6. 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Also, send me two(2) copies of the actual publication to the address below: As new monthly tips are developed they will be e-mailed separately. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks again for visiting my website and remember to keep returning EACH month for new tips. Also, let me know if you would like to see any other speaking tips and remember to pass these tips along to EVERYONE you know! Until next month! - Lenny Laskowski :-)