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