Dr. Wood's book,Teach Public Speaking to Anyone! A Building Block Approach, is the recipient of the Arizona Book Publishing Association's Gliph Award for Best "How To" Book.
Dee Dees, DTM, Past International Director, Toastmasters International, says,
"A great resource for Toastmaster's speech classes, or anyone who wants to master effective communication on any level. Its building-block approach will help anyone ease their way into public speaking."
Listen in your car as you drive to and from work. Master this material and you will be in command of what it takes to persuade as you inform.

Tracks:
  1. Introduction                                                         7. Make Them Feel Important.
Part I: Your Opening.                                            8. Help Them Remember.  
  2. Make Them Want to Listen.                          Part III: Your Conclusion:
Part II: THe "Body" of your presentation.       9. A Powerful Close.        
  3. Help Them Believe.                                       Part IV: How They See You
  4.Make Them Understand.                                  10. Your Delivery & Your Image.
  5. Make Them Enjoy.
  6. Make Them Sense.
 
 
TALK "TO" NOT "AT" YOUR AUDIENCE
Milton Wood, 2011

Think of any professional speaker you enjoy and ask your self, "Is he or she talking TO me or AT me?" I'll bet that your answer will be, 99 % of the time, that the speaker seems to be talking TO you!

As I watch speakers of differing skills give presentations, it is easy to see that often times the novice speaker is speaking AT their listeners and not TO them. Picture, for a minute, a person trying to put out a fire with a bucket of water. They have two choices, they can stand back, and with a mighty heave, empty the bucket in the general direction of the fire; or, they can approach the fire and carefully direct its contents on the fire itself. Which tactic will be the most efficient?

Based on my experience, all practiced speakers do not simply shower the audience with their thoughts; rather, they try their best to pour their messages directly into the minds of their listeners. They use every tactic they can find to make their messages a personal experience for each listener.

One good example of speaking TO a listener occurs every time we have a one-on-one conversation with a friend or acquaintance. Let's dissect a one-on-one conversation over coffee and see if we can use the same techniques behind the lectern.

First of all, there is the magic of eye contact. Surprise... we look at each other. We don't look out the window at passing cars or at some one sitting at another table (most of the time): we look at the person we are talking to! Often times we will use a form of dwelling eye contact, where we hesitate for a second or two to give a verbal exclamation point to what we have just said. Other times we will combine a slight pause in the flow of our words to let our idea "sink in" or to make sure that our listener appears to understand what we just said. ALL OF THESE TECHNIQUES ARE NATURAL. All of them allow us to get inside the minds of our listeners. ALL OF THEM CAN BE USED BEHIND THE LECTERN.

Let's continue our analysis. What about our vocal variety and gestures over coffee? Wow, the finest professional speaker could do no better! Our words come alive as we describe what we feel and what we believe. Volume and speed of delivery vary precisely in rhythm with the ideas we are expressing. And, it doesn't stop there. Mental imagery literally pours forth as we describe the sunrise on the way to work or the traffic jam on the way home. Simultaneously, our hands and facial expression enter each word adding the magic of unspoken language that makes verbal communication so special. All of THESE TECHNIQUES ARE NATURAL. All of them can be used to get INSIDE the minds of our listeners. ALL OF THEM CAN BE USED BEHIND THE LECTERN.

So, next presentation, whether old pro or novice, remember the communication skills you have been perfecting since your first scream. Remember how you go about sharing ideas over coffee, or at home watching television, or during most of your normal life. With these memories fresh in mind stand in front of your next audience and talk TO them not AT them.

This article may be used if the author's name and website is included. www.TeachPublicSpeaking.com
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