Fearless Presentations

Latest Episodes:

The Secret Sauce for Jazzing Up Your Presentations Apr 10, 2023

Show notes

We talk a lot in the podcast about ways to reduce nervousness and become a better presenter. However, one of the big parts of making a speech is the ability to create presentations that (1) the audience likes and wants to hear, and (2) are interesting and easy to understand.
On this episode, I'm going to show you the "secret sauce" to designing fun and interesting presentations. This secret will add humor to your speech. It will also help you make technical content way easier for the audience to understand.
Interestingly, the technique is only a secret because so few presenters use these items in their speeches. In fact, the processes are taught in every literature class in the world.
Metaphors, Similes, and Analogies: The Special Sauce for Your Presentation Masterpiece
Metaphors, Similes, and Analogies are your secret weapon when you create presentations. I like to think of myself as a pretty good speaker and writer. I always hated English class in high school and college, though. So, I always got confused between what was a metaphor, what was a simile, and what was an analogy. To me, these parts of speech were so similar that I didn’t really see a lot of difference in them. (Still don’t, by the way.)

However, these often confused parts of speech are the special sauce to really great presentation burgers. If you use them just right, these items will be like adding the perfect piece of jewelry to a formal dress. They will take a speech that is already pretty good and make it exceptional.
Show Notes: Metaphors, Similes, and Analogies: The Special Sauce for Your Presentation Masterpiece (https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/metaphors-similes-and-analogies-the-special-sauce-for-your-presentation-masterpiece/)

What Type of Public Speaking Training Is Best for Me? For My Situation? Apr 03, 2023

Show notes

This week, I explain the difference between the different formats of public speaking training in 2023. You can listen to podcasts like this one, gain incites from online presentation classes, watch videos on YouTube or Rumble, get a public speaking coach, or even attend a public speaking class.
With all of these different options, which will give you the best result? In this episode, I explain the differences between all of these formats and let you know what you can expect from each. By the way, all of these formats can help. But some will give you a much better return on your time and effort.
Show Notes: Different Types of Public Speaking Training in 2023. (https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/public-speaking-training/)

Using Public Speaking to Market Your Business and Generate New Customers with Tom Jackobs Mar 27, 2023

Show notes

My guest today is Tom Jackobs, an expert at helping companies and sales teams use success stories to attract customers and clients. And he shares with me how he used public speaking to take a start-up from zero customers to millions of dollars in revenue each year using public speaking as the main marketing apparatus.
We also talk about how inserting stories into your presentations can reduce nervousness and increase the Know, like, and trust value that you have with your audience or clients.
Tom spent his first career working in big a few big companies like BP and eventually transitioned to a medium-sized company where he worked his way up to the VP level. Then, after years of helping other people grow their businesses, he decided to go out on his own and built a fairly substantial business of his own in the fitness industry. Along the way, he began helping other entrepreneurs grow their businesses. So, in 2017, after he sold his fitness business, he became a full-time business coach helping business owners do what he did -- which is to grow their businesses by getting really good at sharing their stories with the world.
So if you want to be a fantastic storyteller and captivate your audience, this episode can help a lot. Also, if you don't think you have a compelling story, you'll be surprised at the advice that Tom gives on the episode.
To download the free storytelling workbook Tom mentions, click this link. (https://tomjackobs.com/storybook/)

How to Present a Proposal to Management and Get Approval Mar 20, 2023

Show notes

For the last couple of weeks, we have been covering different types of persuasion speeches. A couple weeks ago, I gave you a three-step process to win audiences to your way of thinking. Last week, we covered how to put together a sales presentation. This week, we will show you how to present a proposal to management.
For instance, if you have identified a problem or opportunity for your company, you may need to get approval. So, how do you present a proposal to management that will get approved? The process is actually pretty simple. The method of how to present a proposal to management that we use works about 100% of the time. Just follow the simple steps in the session, and your project will easily get funded.
Show Notes: How to Present a Proposal to Management-And Get Approval (https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/how-to-present-a-proposal-to-management/)

How to Create a Business Proposal Presentation Mar 13, 2023

Show notes

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when you present a proposal to a client. Here is the scenario… You have done your homework. A team at your company painstakingly created the perfect sales proposal. In fact, the potential client was so impressed, that they moved you to their “shortlist.” Now, though, they want you to present a bid proposal to the purchasing committee.

Your team is one of just six to eight other companies competing for this contract. How do you make sure that the committee picks your team? Well, not to brag, but over the years, groups that I have coached have received over 80% of these contracts. Just follow this simple sales presentation outline, and your team will have a better shot at winning as well.

Don’t Get Hung Up on the Terms Proposal, Bid Proposal, Shortlist Presentation or Sales Presentation

By the way, don’t get hung up on the terms that I am using. People will often respond with something like, “We don’t present ‘bids’ to our potential clients.” In other cases, professional people may say, “But I’m not a salesperson. This isn’t a sales presentation.” My point is, don’t get hung up on the terms.

The process that I’m covering will help anyone who is presenting a solution to a person or group who will exchange money for this solution. The terms “Bid” and “Proposal” are standard procurement terms, which is why we are using them here.

I have heard this type of presentation called each of the following over the years.

Bid Proposal
RFP Presentation
Shortlist Presentation
Sales Presentation
Present a Quote

Opportunities to close really big deals via a presentation are pretty nerve racing. We all want every, single advantage that we can get when we walk into the room. So, if you want to ace your next short-list presentation or RFP presentation, one of our coaches can help. Complete the form below, and one of our instructors will contact you.
Show Note: How to Create a Business Proposal Presentation (https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/present-a-bid-proposal-great-sales-presentation-outline/)

How to Design a Persuasive Presentation in 3 Easy Steps Mar 06, 2023

Show notes

This week, I'm going to cover a simple three-step process to help you design a persuasive presentation. Most persuasive speech techniques -- especially the ones that are taught in high school and often at the university level, actually make people want to play devil's advocate and even argue with the presenter.
So in the session, I'm going to give you a time-tested technique that is much more effective. Whether you are selling a product or service to a customer or selling an idea to your boss, this technique will likely come in handy.
One of the highest needs of human beings is to be heard and to be understood. So, when you are writing a persuasive presentation, it is important to remember that your audience wants you to understand them as much as you want to be understood.

Most people think that a single fact is good, additional facts are better, and too many facts are just right. So, the more facts you can use to prove your point, the better chance you have of convincing the other person that you are right. The HUGE error in this logic, though, is that if you prove that you are right, you are also proving that the other person is wrong. People don’t like it when someone proves that they are wrong. So, we prove our point, the other person is likely to feel resentment. When resentment builds, it leads to anger. Once anger enters the equation, logic goes right out the window.

In addition, when people use a “fact” or “Statistic” to prove a point, the audience has a natural reaction to take a contrary side of the argument. For instance, if I started a statement with, “I can prove to you beyond a doubt that…” before I even finish the statement, there is a good chance that you are already trying to think of a single instance where the statement is NOT true. This is a natural response. As a result, the thing that we need to realize about being persuasive is that the best way to persuade another person is to make the person want to agree with us. We do this by showing the audience how they can get what they want if they do what we want.

Show Notes: How to Design a Persuasive Presentation in 3 Easy Steps (https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/persuasive-speech-how-to-write-a-persuasive-speech/)

5 Practical Tips to Help you Overcome Stage Fright Feb 27, 2023

Show notes

This week, I interview Kelsey Greenwood who is a professional speaker and consultant who just wrote a fascinating paper on five simple ways to overcome stage fright. If you are experiencing nervousness when you stand up to present, these tips can help you easily reduce that nervousness. The first couple are both mental things that you can do to prepare yourself before you speak, and the last three are things that you can physically do to combat stage fright.
Want to overcome stage fright for good? Do you experience dry mouth, rapid breathing, and sweaty palms when you present in front of a crowd? If so, these five practical tips can help you lower that level of anxiety in less than a week.

Whether or not it’s your first time preparing for a speech performance in front of an audience, it’s best not to “wing it.” People experience the most stage fright when they feel unprepared. You prepare for a speech to feel more comfortable with your content, stretch your leadership skills and give you a sense of ease for the day of the performance. Each tip below provides a bit of wisdom with an actionable tip to help you overcome stage fright and reduce performance anxiety.
Full Show Notes: 5 Practical Tips to Help you Overcome Stage Fright (https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/5-practical-tips-to-help-you-overcome-stage-fright-and-reduce-performance-anxiety/)

The Opposite of Impostor Syndrome-Journey to Self Confidence Feb 20, 2023

Show notes

Imposter syndrome is a term used to describe the feeling of inadequacy, self-doubt, and lack of confidence that many people experience in their professional or personal lives. It is the feeling that you are a fraud, that you are not good enough, and that your accomplishments are simply the result of luck or circumstance rather than your own abilities.
The good news is that while imposter syndrome is a common experience, it is not the only one. The opposite of imposter syndrome is a sense of confidence, self-assurance, and belief in oneself. In this blog post, we will explore the opposite of imposter syndrome, how it manifests itself, and how capable people can cultivate it in their lives.
The opposite of imposter syndrome is a sense of self-assurance and self-confidence. It is also a belief in yourself. It is the knowledge that you are capable, competent, and deserving of the success you have achieved. Imposter syndrome is characterized by self-doubt and negative self-talk. The opposite of imposter syndrome is characterized by positive self-talk, self-awareness, and a sense of purpose.

By the way, this doesn’t mean being arrogant or overconfident. It is not about being boastful or self-promoting. Instead, the process is about recognizing your own abilities and accomplishments. You also have to have the confidence to share them with others.
Show Notes: The Opposite of Impostor Syndrome-Journey to Self Confidence (https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/the-opposite-of-imposter-syndrome-a-journey-to-self-confidence-and-belief-in-yourself/)

How I Eliminated My Fear of Public Speaking Part 2 of 2 Feb 14, 2023

Show notes

Doug Staneart — President and CEO of The Leader’s Institute ® and Creator of the Fearless Presentations ® Public Speaking Training Programs.
Last week I began a two-part series on the step-by-step process that I went through to overcome public speaking fear. I covered the first four life lessons that helped me get there.
Most of the tips in the last session were things that I learned early in life that helped me have the right focus when I experienced that fear and that first failure in front of a group. This week, I'm going to give the top three things you can do if you have already made the decision to get better as a speaker. (Or get better at just about any skill that you struggle with.)
Show Notes: How I Eliminated My Public Speaking Fear and Stage Fright (https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/how-a-shy-trailer-park-kid-became-a-world-class-speaker-and-how-you-can-too/)

How I Eliminated My Fear of Public Speaking Part 1 of 2 Feb 06, 2023

Show notes

Doug Staneart — President and CEO of The Leader’s Institute ® and Creator of the Fearless Presentations ® Public Speaking Training Programs.

My public speaking class members often ask me questions like, “Do you still get nervous when you speak?” “How did you become a professional speaker?” And the most common, “You were a nervous speaker… How did you overcome your public speaking fear?”

The answer to the first question is, “Sure. When I deliver big presentations or do something new, yes, I still get nervous from time to time. But the nervousness isn’t anywhere close to the public speaking anxiety I had years ago.”

The other two questions, though, have both a short answer and a long answer.

So, I thought that I would back up this week and show you how I overcame my fear of public speaking. You could also call this post how an incredibly shy person beat the odds to become a confident speaker and presenter. My first formal presentation in the business world was such a failure that it cost me my first career.

However, that failure was a turning point in my life. It was horrible when I experienced it. However, it allowed me to help over 100,000 people avoid making the same mistake.

I hope that my story can help you overcome your public speaking fear as well! If a person like me can become a great speaker… ANYONE can become a great speaker. You will have to work. You will also have to embrace your fear when you speak in front of an audience. However, you will also experience great rewards when you do!
Show Notes: How I Eliminated My Fear of Public Speaking (https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/how-a-shy-trailer-park-kid-became-a-world-class-speaker-and-how-you-can-too/)

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