Education
**Fearless Presentations**

Want to eliminate public speaking fear and become a more poised and confident presenter and speaker? Fearless Presentations is the answer. This podcast is based on our famous two-day presentation skills class offered in cities all over the world. Each week, we offer free public speaking tips that help you develop the skill to present with poise when you deliver presentations. This is the fastest, easiest way to eliminate public speaking fear.

Latest Episodes:

How to Overcome Public Speaking Fear Part 1 of 2 Jun 14, 2021

Show notes

Want to eliminate the fear of public speaking? Two decades ago, we created the Fearless Presentations ® class to help people eliminate public speaking fear.

After training over 20,000 class members, our instructors have discovered a few simple truths about stage fright and speech anxiety. Once you understand these secrets, you too really reduce this fear.

Below are a few facts about public speaking fear that can help.

What Is Public Speaking Fear?

Stage fright is still one of the most prevalent anxieties in the world. In fact, psychologists created a specific term for this particular social phobia. They call it glossophobia — which is a form of social anxiety disorder.

Basically, this performance anxiety occurs when a person has to stand in front of a group and deliver a presentation. Since the symptoms of this fear are so common, presenters often have questions about why it’s there, where it came from, and how do you get rid of it?

Most people feel like they are the only ones out there who experience butterflies in the stomach, a shaky voice, or shaky hands. However, just about every speaker has some sort of nervousness when presenting in front of groups. The person may have had a bad experience at a previous speaking engagement. Now, when he or she stands to speak n front of any number of people, the person may feel a lot of nervous energy. If the speech is in front of a large audience, he or she may experience a full-blown panic attack.

As a result, a lot of people who feel that stage fright will avoid public speaking situations altogether. These people can miss out on big opportunities. If public speakers don’t do something about the anxiety, it can escalate and turn into a debilitating phobia. With all that being said, though, here is some really good news. As far as anxiety disorders go, this one is really easy to conquer.
For full show notes go to: Overcoming Public Speaking Fear
https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/fear-of-public-speaking/

How Many PowerPoint Slides Should You Use in a Presentation? Jun 07, 2021

Show notes

When people ask me how many slides should I use in my presentation, I typically reply very cautiously. Most people make a huge mistake when designing a speech or presentation. They start by designing their slideshow. Then, later, they figure out what they want to say. This technique is backward.

Instead, you want to figure out what you want to say first. Then, after you have designed a great presentation, go back and figure out what visual aids you will need to better make your key points. The main rule of thumb is to provide only the number of slides that you absolutely need and absolutely no more than that.

So in this session, I’m going to cover a few examples for the right number of slides needed in short presentations, the long presentation, the best way to give corporate presentations.
For full show notes, visit How Many PowerPoint Slides Should You Use in a Presentation?
https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/how-many-powerpoint-slides-should-you-use-in-a-presentation/

7 Best Tips to Improve Presentation Skills and Practice Public Speaking Jun 01, 2021

Show notes

The absolute best way to reduce the fear of public speaking is to just improve your presentation skills. Think about it. Anytime you get really good at doing something, your confidence in that area will soar. When we teach the Fearless Presentations course, we spend the first couple of hours helping the audience members get comfortable. Then, the remaining three-fourths of the class focuses on improving public speaking skills.

Over the last 20 years, we have seen thousands of different ways to practice public speaking. So, in this episode, I thought I would summarize the absolute best tips to improve your presentation skills. Focus on these things, and you will gain confidence in a very short time.

7 Simple Ways to Improve Presentation Skills

There are thousands of ways to reduce stage fright and get better at public speaking. The seven simple tips below, though, will give you the most bang for your buck.

Narrow Down Your Presentation Topic to a Single Result that Interests Your Audience.
Organize Your Presentation into Just a Few Main Points.
Gain the Audience’s Attention by Focusing on What They Want.
Improve Presentation Skills by Improving Your Visual Aids. (Do This and You Will Not Have to Memorize Anything.
Make Stories and Examples the Backbone of Your Next Presentation.
Use Some Subtle Audience Participation to Make Your Speech More Enjoyable (for You and Them.)
Practice Your Presentation with a Partner or Family Member.

We will cover each in a little more detail. However, before we do, let’s cover a few things about public speaking fear. If you are new to speaking in front of an audience, you may feel a little anxious. That is normal. Just before you stand to speak, take a couple of deep breaths. This will calm your heart rate down and relieve some of the symptoms. The faster you get into a story, the less nervous you will be. (More on this later.)
For full show notes, visit https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/7-best-tips-to-improve-presentation-skills-and-practice-public-speaking/

Comfortable on Camera with Elsewine Rietveld May 24, 2021

Show notes

This week, I've got a guest interview with Elsewine Rietveld who is an expert on reducing nervousness when creating video recordings. Just so you folks know, I had been a professional speaker for over 20 years before I started this podcast. Even with that kind of experience, the first few recordings were nerve-racking. I wished I had known Elsewine back then.
By the way, she just released her book on Amazon the same day that this episode is being released, so today. If you want to purchase her book, here is a link to it https://amzn.to/2QIR7PJ
If you haven't yet subscribed to the podcast, make sure to do that. Also, if you want to leave be a review, I would appreciate that as well. Also, the Fearless Presentations YouTube channel is churning out presentation tip videos a few times each week. Make sure to subscribe there as well. (https://www.youtube.com/c/FearlessPresentationsOnline/)
Enjoy the interview!

Know Your Audience-How EXACTLY Do You Do That? May 17, 2021

Show notes

Your host, Doug Staneart of Fearless Presentations explains what it means to Know Your Audience.
Listen to any speaking coach, go to any Toastmasters, attend any presentation seminar, you will hear a single phrase over and over. “Know your audience.” Sounds really good too. When we hear the phrase, we think, “Well, of course. That makes sense.” But what exactly does “know your audience mean?” Is there a formula to help a speaker know his or her audience better?

Well, yes, there is. In fact, every presenter should use this formula before creating any speech or any PowerPoint slide. Because the answers that you get from following the formula will greatly change what content you cover in your presentation. The answers will also allow you to change your delivery so that your audience is more likely to agree with you. (Buy what you are selling.)
The concept of “know your audience” can be confusing. When a lot of presenters hear this, they think of it in the context of what not to say versus presentation design. For instance, I shouldn’t tell the off-color joke in church. Or, this is a very technical audience, so I need to cover lots of details. Or, this audience of executives just wants an overview.

All of those alterations are superficial and miss the point of the concept. Basically, to really know your audience, there are four things that you want to uncover.

First, Know the Primary Problem that Your Audience Is Trying to Solve.
Next, Identify the Non-Negotiable Items that Your Audience (Buyer) Requires.
Then, Try to Identify Any Additional Items the Audience May Want, But Won’t Make or Break the Agreement.
Finally, Find Out the Emotional Motive that Would Cause the Audience to Take Action.

When we start designing a presentation, we often don’t have thorough answers to all of these questions. So often, we have to alter and adjust on the fly as we discover more about our audience. However, if you ask the right questions to the right people ahead of time, you will have fewer of these adjustments.
For full show notes, visit

Know Your Audience before Designing Your Presentation

https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/know-your-audience-before-designing-your-sales-presentation/

Using Your Story to Create Better Presentations Interview with JT Compeau May 10, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, host Doug Staneart interviews J. T. Compeau, CEO of The Content Interpreter. J.T. works with thought leaders, C-suite members, and entrepreneurs as a speechwriter and presentation consultant. Across industries, skill sets, and stories, he works with clients to extract their greatness and infuse it into their content.
In the interview, Doug and J.T. discuss J.T.'s background in marketing and how that experience led him to help business owners be able to create both a personal brand as well as brand their companies using a narrative. J.T. gives a few tips to help businesspeople create better (more interesting) speeches and presentations.
He also mentions giving away free access to three of his most popular videos on the subject. You can find his videos at https://contentinterpreter.com/free-guide

Design the Perfect Presentation Handout without a Graphic Designer May 03, 2021

Show notes

Make Your Presentation Handouts Look Professional without a Graphic Designer

Last week was part one of How to Create the Perfect Presentation Handout. In that article and podcast, I gave you three easy ways to create helpful handouts to accompany your in-person presentations. This week, I’m going to show you how to style your presentation handouts so that they look really professional. The good news is that you don’t need any special graphic design skills, and you don’t need any special software. You can make everything that we are going to talk about today with just an internet browser.
For full show notes, visit Make Your Presentation Handouts Look Professional
https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/make-your-presentation-handouts-look-professional-without-a-graphic-designer/

Create the Perfect Presentation Handout (Part 1 of 2) Apr 26, 2021

Show notes

Have you ever wondered how to create the perfect presentation handout? You’ve been asked to give a speech, and you’re excited to give the best presentation possible. You put all kinds of preparation into putting together an amazing presentation and finding the perfect examples to prove your points. Your presentation is infused with memorable anecdotes, terrific insights, great visuals, and even a wry joke here or there. You’ve covered every possible angle – or have you?

Have you thought about what handouts you’ll be providing to your audience? If you haven’t, then you haven’t covered all the must-haves of a great presentation. Good speakers and lecturers usually give handouts to accompany their speeches. As a result, a great handout can make your presentation more memorable. It gives your audience the freedom to listen to your presentation instead of frantically taking notes. The handouts you provide also help them remember the key points and highlights from your presentation, making your talk even more valuable. People are grateful for good handouts and will remember you long after the talk ended. Finally, your handout can be used as an exceptional marketing piece. If it is good enough, your audience members will both keep it and share it with others.
Host Doug Staneart of Fearless Presentations
For full show notes and to download the How to Create a Handout... Handout, click here.
https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/how-to-create-the-perfect-presentation-handout/

How to Reduce Nervousness in a Job Interview (Part 2 of 2) Apr 19, 2021

Show notes

A Step-by-Step Process to Help You Answer Job Interview Questions When Under Pressure.
The best way to answer a job interview question is to answer quickly, then give an example from your experience. Remember, you are the expert on yourself. In addition, the interviewer wants to see if you have the experience to help his or her team solve problems. So, each of your interview answers shows how you have solved problems in the past, you will show that you are qualified.

In this session, I cover a simple three-step process to help you answer interview questions professionally.
Host Doug Staneart, CEO of The Leaders Institute.
Full show notes at https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/ace-the-job-interview-conversation-skills-that-help-you-wow-interviewers/

How to Reduce Nervousness in a Job Interview (Part 1 of 2) Apr 12, 2021

Show notes

Want to establish solid trust and rapport during a job interview. Prospective employers will first weed through a lot of resumes. Then comes the hard part. Because next, they want to see if the candidate is a good fit within their team. The job interview is the main way they determine this. In this session, I’m going to show you ways to relax and take charge of the interview. In fact, I’ll also show you how to take the pressure off of the interviewer. When you make the interviewer’s job easier, you build even more trust and rapport.

We are going to tackle this subject in three parts.

How to Reduce Nervousness During a Job Interview.
Research Your Prospective Company and the Job Interviewer to Anticipate Questions.
A Step-by-Step Process to Help You Answer Job Interview Questions When Under Pressure.

For full show notes visit Ace the Job Interview
https://www.fearlesspresentations.com/ace-the-job-interview-conversation-skills-that-help-you-wow-interviewers/