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Book Description

Project self-assurance when speaking—even if you don't feel confident! 

When you speak in public, your reputation is at stake. Whether you're speaking at a conference, pitching for new business, or presenting to your Executive Board, the ability to connect with, influence, and inspire your audience is a critically important skill. Public Speaking Skills For Dummies introduces you to simple, practical, and real-world techniques and insights that will transform your ability to achieve impact through the spoken word.

In this book, champion of public speaking Alyson Connolly takes you step by step through the process of conceiving, crafting, and delivering a high-impact presentation. You’ll discover how to overcome your nerves, engage your audience, and convey gravitas—all while getting your message across clearly and concisely.

•    Bring ideas to life through business storytelling
•    Use space and achieve an even greater sense of poise
•    Get your message across with greater clarity, concision, and impact
•    Deal more effectively with awkward questions

Get ready to win over hearts and minds —and deliver the talk of your life!

Table of Contents

  1. Cover
  2. Introduction
    1. How This Book Is Organized
    2. Foolish Assumptions
    3. Icons
    4. Beyond the Book
    5. Where to Go from Here
  3. Part 1: Laying the Groundwork
    1. Chapter 1: Getting Started with Public Speaking
      1. Dealing with Issues That Stand in Your Way
      2. Improving Your Body Language
      3. Adjusting Your Pace
      4. Supporting Your Breath
      5. Boosting Confidence through Preparation and Training
      6. Honing Your Delivery
      7. Dealing with the Audience
      8. Excelling in Interviews
      9. Mastering the Fine Art of Conversation
      10. Dropping the Ball and Still Managing to Score
      11. Wearing Clothes That Spell Success
    2. Chapter 2: Getting Your Brain in the Game
      1. Recognizing the Pitfalls of Negative Thoughts
      2. Keeping the Brain’s Fight, Flight, or Freeze Response in Check
      3. Adopting a Yes Let’s Attitude
      4. Knowing When to Say No
  4. Part 2: Diagnosing and Treating Common Afflictions
    1. Chapter 3: Overcoming Performance Anxiety
      1. Staying Loose: Tension Can Ruin a Speech
      2. Chin Up and Don’t Slouch
      3. Using Your Body to Battle the Fight, Flight, or Freeze Response
    2. Chapter 4: Curing Common Vocal Problems
      1. Vanquishing Vocal Fry
      2. Undoing Upspeak
      3. Decomissioning Devoicing
      4. Battling Breathiness
      5. Negating Nasal Voice
      6. Preventing the Push: Speaking Evenly
      7. Stopping Stuttering
      8. Denying the Drop
    3. Chapter 5: Conquering Impostor Syndrome: You Are Who You Think You Are
      1. Feeling Like a Phony
      2. Understanding Why It Happens
      3. Being Yourself
  5. Part 3: Preparing Your Speech and Training Yourself
    1. Chapter 6: Crafting a Captivating Speech
      1. Planning and Preparing
      2. What’s Your Point?
      3. Hooking Your Audience
      4. Supporting Your Point: The PIE Method
      5. Writing in Your Own Voice
      6. Show, Don’t Tell
      7. Crafting Your Narrative: Story Time
    2. Chapter 7: Using Visual Aids
      1. A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Words
      2. Mastering Essential Slide Show Skills
      3. The Do’s and Don’ts of Audio
      4. Using Video … If You Must
      5. Using Other Visual Aids
    3. Chapter 8: Being Funny (or Trying To)
      1. Getting Personal: Revealing Who You Really Are
      2. Writing Stories and Jokes
      3. Breaking It Down: Elements of Humor
    4. Chapter 9: Practicing Your Speech
      1. Practicing Out Loud
      2. Recording and Critiquing Yourself
      3. Mark My Words: Adjusting Your Script for Emphasis
      4. Slowing Down: Speed Kills
    5. Chapter 10: Becoming a Vocal Athlete
      1. Understanding the Importance of Nutrition
      2. Making Sure You’re Fed
      3. Getting Some Exercise
  6. Part 4: Fine-Tuning Your Delivery
    1. Chapter 11: Prepping Your Mind for Public Speaking
      1. Learning to Visualize Positively
      2. Building Self-Confidence
      3. Cutting Yourself Some Slack
      4. Shifting Your Focus to the Audience
    2. Chapter 12: Mastering the ABCs of Articulation
      1. Meet the Articulators
      2. Understanding Mumbling and Why People Do It
      3. Honing Your Articulation
      4. Improving Clarity for an Accent
    3. Chapter 13: Good Vibrations: Resonance
      1. Getting to Know Your Resonators
      2. Why We Study Resonance
      3. Putting Your Whole Body into It
  7. Part 5: Enhancing Your Speech
    1. Chapter 14: Breath, Tone, and Pitch
      1. Breathe, Breathe, Breathe
      2. Improving Your Tone
      3. Harnessing the Power of Pitch
    2. Chapter 15: Getting Body Language into the Act
      1. Becoming a Poser (in a Good Way)
      2. Tuning In to Audience Perception
      3. Moving with a Purpose
      4. Hand Jive: Gesturing with Your Hands
      5. Dressing for the Occasion
    3. Chapter 16: Ready, Set, Go!
      1. ’Twas the Night Before …
      2. Getting Familiar with the Space
      3. Eating for Success
      4. Sleeping to Refresh
      5. It’s Show Time!
  8. Part 6: It’s Show Time: Plying Your Trade
    1. Chapter 17: Acing the Interview
      1. Becoming an Expert on You
      2. Becoming an Expert on the Industry and Organization
      3. Checking Out the Interviewers
      4. Using Body Language in the Interview
      5. Public Speaking: The Interview Edition
      6. Chatting like a Champ: Phone Interviews
    2. Chapter 18: Engaging in Witty Repartee
      1. Minding Your Manners
      2. Staying Engaged in the Conversation
      3. Composing Your Elevator Pitch
    3. Chapter 19: If at First You Don’t Succeed
      1. Everyone Wants You to Succeed
      2. Rolling with the Punches
      3. Getting Better at Improvising
  9. Part 7: The Part of Tens
    1. Chapter 20: Ten (or So) Tips for Stage Fright
      1. Accept Your Fear
      2. Practice, Practice, Practice
      3. Breathe Slowly and Deeply
      4. Use Progressive Relaxation
      5. Be Up and Out, Not Down and In
      6. Move Your Hands
      7. Get Positive — Yes Let’s
      8. Roll with Mistakes
      9. Repeat an Affirmation in Your Head
      10. Focus on an Engaged Audience Member
      11. Slow Down
    2. Chapter 21: Ten Ways to Improve Your Delivery
      1. Analyze Your Script
      2. Personalize Your Speech
      3. Emphasize Key Words
      4. Change Up Your Pitch, Tone, and Word Duration
      5. Breathe!
      6. Slow Down Your Pace
      7. Land Your Thoughts
      8. Use the Power of the Pause
      9. Record Your Presentation
      10. Ask a Friend or Colleague to Watch and Listen
    3. Chapter 22: Ten Tips for Preparing to Speak
      1. Warm Up Your Body and Your Voice
      2. Adopt a Power Pose for at Least Two Minutes
      3. Practice Your Speech While Doing an Unrelated Task
      4. Eat Healthy, Drink Water
      5. Visualize a Successful Presentation
      6. Recite Your Speech Dressed in Your Presentation Clothes
      7. Arrange Your Notes and Visuals
      8. Bring Water
      9. Arrive Early
      10. Introduce Yourself
  10. About the Author
  11. Advertisement Page
  12. Connect with Dummies
  13. Index
  14. End User License Agreement
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