Praise for The Truth About Confident Presenting
"O'Rourke goes beyond the typical list of speaking tips and packs a lot of wisdom into his 51 truths. He explains the critical link between the content of a speech and its ultimate effectiveness, illuminating the powerful connection between preparation and performance. Speakers who follow his winning formula are sure to find a grateful audience".
—R. Jeep Bryant, Executive Vice President, Chief Communications Officer,
The Bank of New York Mellon
"From strategy to tactics, the 51 common-sense 'truths' in this book are useful, practical, and easy to adapt. Even reading just a few chapters will help to make you a better speaker. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to the executive speakers I work with".
—Jan Botz, Executive Director, Chief Communications Officer,
Dow Corning Corporation
"Whether you are speaking to a large audience, your boss, your employees, or your kids, you will feel more confident and prepared, and be far more effective, after reading this book. O'Rourke provides simple, doable tips that really make a difference. From caring to preparing, you'll learn what it takes to engage your audience and make your message count!"
—Patty Blackburn, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications,
RSM McGladrey, Inc.
"The Truth About Confident Presenting is an excellent, practical guide for anyone who aspires to deliver effective and engaging presentations. It is a valuable resource for the novice as well as veteran speakers."
—Catherine V. Babington, Vice President, Public Affairs,
Abbott Laboratories
"Years of successful presentation experience condensed into an easily digestible but invaluable checklist for anyone wishing to channel natural anxiety over public speaking into improving their presentation skills. Filled with real-world examples and anecdotes...O'Rourke focuses on the essentials of great presenting."
—Tim Andree, Chief Executive Officer,
Dentsu America
The Truth About Confident Presenting
© 2008 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Publishing as FT Press
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Printed in the United States of America
Second Printing April 2008
ISBN-10: 0-13-235496-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-13-235496-7
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
O'Rourke, James S., 1946-
The truth about confident presenting / James O'Rourke. -- 1st ed.
p. cm.
ISBN 0-13-235496-9 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Public speaking. I. Title.
PN4129.15.O76 2008
808.5'1--dc22
2007029615
Introduction
Harvard Business School professor John Kotter studied a number of successful general managers over a five-year period and found that they spend most of their time with other people, including subordinates, their bosses, and numerous people from outside the organization. His study found that the average manager spends just 25 percent of his time working alone. Most of that time with others, Kotter found, was spent talking and listening—and a sizable fraction was spent presenting ideas and actions to others.
Similarly, management consultant Dierdre Borden found that successful managers spend about 75 percent of their time in verbal interaction with others: on the telephone, face-to-face, in meetings, and in presentations to large and small groups. The fact is, most information in contemporary business and social settings is passed orally, and our most important ideas are frequently formalized in presentations to clients, customers, shareholders, superiors, and key decision makers.
You can't avoid it. At some point soon in your career, you're going to be asked to give a presentation. The problem is that most people are genuinely apprehensive about doing that. We can compose a memo, letter, report, or e-mail in the quiet and comfort of our home or office, but standing in front of a group to offer our thoughts—or to motivate them to action—is simply frightening to many people.
Like it or not, during a presentation you're being evaluated by everyone in the audience. You're being sized up, critiqued, and assessed. For those 15 or 20 minutes, your value to the organization, your career...your future are on the line. No wonder people get nervous.
I've been teaching public speaking to business school students, government and military officials, and professionals in all lines of work for more than 35 years, and I've learned one simple truth about public speaking: It's not easy, but it's certainly doable. I've helped people overcome fears, anxieties, and apprehensions of all sorts and watched them go on to wow an audience with their presentation skills. If they can do it, so can you.
This book, simple and compact as it is, can do three things for you. First, it can help you to diagnose your current speaking abilities. It can help you size up your skill levels and get some sense of whether you're "ready for prime time". Second, it shows you the standards of the North American marketplace. Point-by-point, you find the expectations of the business and professional world. Finally, this book gives you the toolkit you need to prepare, improve, and present. It's all here, neatly tucked into 51 Truths.
The most important truth to be learned, however, is this: Great presenters weren't born that way. They became great by focusing on their message, the needs of the audience, the pattern of organization, and the details of presenting. Persistence, dedication, and a little practice can go a long way toward making you a top-notch public speaker. The details are straight ahead.