| You speak before a group. You present your | | | | in one who appears to be big: Bigger, stronger, more |
| message. You might be selling your product, service | | | | confident.Stand with your hands and arms open most |
| or yourself. How do you present yourself with | | | | of the time. Crossed arms appear guarded not |
| power?Avoid the temptationsDon't be fooled by the | | | | powerful. You appear to be hiding something. Keep |
| name. Just because of the name - there is no implied | | | | your hands out of your pockets. If you want to |
| power in PowerPoint. PowerPoint does not convey | | | | appear open, look open.Sound PowerfulYour voice is |
| power. Have you noticed how many use PowerPoint | | | | the next component to power and believably. Power |
| and do not have power? That should be your first | | | | comes from the appearance of confidence. You |
| clue. If everyone is doing it - it is not powerful. Did | | | | sound more powerful when you sound more |
| you notice how quickly the Macarena faded once | | | | confident. You sound more confident when you |
| vice president Al Gore did it?PowerPoint is | | | | speak slower and deeper - and say less. Speaking |
| easy-to-use software. It seduces you into believing | | | | slower shows that you are willing to let listeners |
| that your presentation is all about nice graphics. That | | | | digest what you say; that you are not afraid of |
| is your second mistake. If it appears to be too easy | | | | interruptions. Speaking slower also lowers the tone of |
| - it is not powerful.The third deception is that a bad | | | | your voice - which makes you sound more credible. |
| presenter can hide behind their PowerPoint | | | | Who sounds more powerful - the slow thudding walk |
| presentation. If you think that, shame on you! If you | | | | of the elephant or the skittering of the mouse?Pause |
| were a bad golfer do you really believe that | | | | more. That displays confidence. It allows your |
| expensive clubs or a Nike cap (like Tiger Woods | | | | listeners to think about what you say. It is never |
| wears) would make you a great golfer? If you could | | | | about what you tell them. It is about what they |
| not ice skate would you offer to play in the Stanley | | | | convince themselves. And they convince themselves |
| cup just because you got new skates? Of course | | | | while you are not talking. You do not convince with |
| not. Don't make that mistake with presentation skills. | | | | your words. They need the silences to think.Hum the |
| Hone the fundamental skills.Power comes from within | | | | first four notes to Beethoven's Fifth symphony. Feel |
| youThe only power that counts in your presentation | | | | the power in those clear simple four notes. Compare |
| and everything you do is the power that comes | | | | that to the skittering of rap music. Have you noticed |
| from within you. That is real power. That is | | | | that the only power in today's music is from the slow |
| recognizable power. That is power that enables you | | | | deep thud of the base?Use words of powerPick |
| to make things happen.This is real power because no | | | | words that convey power. Short simple clear words |
| one can take it away from you. They can admire it | | | | display more power than longer words. Love, hate, |
| and covet it but they cannot take it away from you. | | | | grow, kill, stop, go, are more powerful than |
| That is what makes you powerful.How do you | | | | infatuation, ill feelings, cultivation, exterminate, |
| convey power to your audience?The first way you | | | | discontinue, departure.Simple phrases and short |
| convey power is in the confidence you project. | | | | sentences have more power than long, vague |
| Stand and look good even if you don't feel good. | | | | convoluted meanderings. Hamlet's "To be or not to |
| Projecting power is based on how you look, sound | | | | be" has more power than "Our mission is to be the |
| and feel. For the past decade of presentation skills | | | | supplier of choice to our customers, show respect |
| training and speech coaching, George Torok, the | | | | for our employees, work fairly with our suppliers, be |
| "Speech Coach for Executives" has discovered that | | | | recognized as a leader in the marketplace and |
| most people look more confident than they feel. This | | | | generate a consistently above average return on |
| is surprising to most presenters. And it is a welcome | | | | investment to our shareholders."Compare that to, |
| relief. No one knows how your inner voice is berating | | | | "We are here to win."Verbs are more powerful than |
| you.Even when you don't feel so good - always look | | | | nouns and more powerful than adjectives and |
| good. This works in your favour. Even when you | | | | adverbs.Action is power. Talk versus communication. |
| question your own confidence the audience does not | | | | Do versus implementation. Sell versus solicitation. |
| know about your inner doubts. They only know what | | | | Those words ending in 'tion' are poison. They suck |
| they see and feel.Appear PowerfulThe physical is the | | | | the power out of your message.You are the |
| first and strongest way you project power. Smile. | | | | powerYou can be more powerful when you speak - |
| That is the look of confidence. Smile. That helps to | | | | if you focus on what you say and how you look and |
| build trust. Smile. That shows that you know your | | | | sound. Power is a feeling. If your audience believes |
| stuff. Too many business presenters make the | | | | you to be powerful by how you make them feel - |
| mistake of thinking, "This is serious business. I must | | | | you will be powerful.Don't hide behind PowerPoint |
| not smile." What a mistake. Any business you are in is | | | | slides to save your presentation or grant you false |
| about people. And people like to deal with people | | | | power. Your personal power will move your audience |
| who convey confidence and trust. Nothing conveys | | | | to buy into your message. The power will never |
| trust and confidence more than a smile. Don't grin like | | | | come from your PowerPoint presentation. Instead |
| the Cheshire cat - but smile with confidence.Another | | | | tap into the personal power that you have inside of |
| physical projection of power is the way you stand. | | | | you. That is what makes you believable and |
| Stand away from the lectern so the audience can | | | | compelling.© George Torok delivers powerful |
| see you. When you appear more open you appear | | | | presentations. He can train you to convey your |
| more believable. | | | | message with power. When you speak with power |
| Stand tall and strong. Shoulders back and chest out. | | | | you will get more of everything. |
| Looking as tall and big as you can. We put more faith | | | | |