Wolf J. Rinke, PhD, RD, CSP
Click here to return to the Professional Development page
© 2003 Wolf Rinke Associates, Inc. All rights reserved for all portions of this program. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission, except for brief excerpts, is prohibited.
Customer Comments
Donna Clearman: "You have great ideas, organized well for easy use. I know from experience that your suggestions work. Well done!"
Anna Nelson: "Very upbeat course; just reading the material can make me feel better. It is very well written and organized. I know that having taken this course will certainly help me in my next presentation! The book is an excellent reference."
Karen Knechtl: "It was practical for anyone, for the professional who is called on to speak only occasionally or for the very frequent presenter."
Alice Bennett: "I liked the ease of ordering, the speed of delivery and the pertinent, concise iformation make this a great place to get quality CEUs."
Michelle Champigny: "I was able to use the program immediately at a presentation and the suggestions really worked!"
Christina McCormack: "It was the best self-study I have ever done. I had a presentation on Wednesday and I used all of your tools and I wasn't nervous once I got there. Thanks for such a great program. I'll keep referring to it for every presentation."
Theresa Hennig: "Hands on approach, easy to read"
Craig Hunt: "Positive attitude approach"
Erika J. Ringwald: "This was so easy to read. Very entertaining, actually."
Lisa Gray: "The bits of humor."
Lova Bea Harris: "You make it fun to learn something new."
Susan Scott: "Great suggestions I can use immediately."
Stephanie Stites: "I enjoyed the CD and listen to it periodically through the week. It is a great motivator."
Holly Buckland: "I really like the fact that you make it 'real;' you make fun of yourself, you find humor in every situation and you make every topic interesting. It was a pleasure to read this book."
Shannon Tolbert: "How to keep your audience tuned in was really helpful."
Karen Johnson: "The course was interesting reading, viable information. Interspersed with humor."
Courtney Goff: "It was a great course for me to apply to both my professional & personal life. The content was presented in such an inspirational & organized manner. Great reference to use in so many ways!
Introduction and Overview
Time to make that important presentation, the one that will determine the future of your career. Time to panic, right? Wrong! In this self-directed learning program you will discover the strategies I've developed during more than 25 years of professional speaking, addressing over 1,000 audiences in about a dozen countries. What you are about to learn will make you comfortable in front of any audience and will help you become an effective presenter.
To get the most out of this Knock'em Alive Presentation Skills learning program it is suggested that you follow these four steps:
Step 1: Review the objectives.
Step 2: Read the information in this self-directed learning program.
Step 3: Assess what you have learned by completing the self-assessment questions.
Step 4: Compare your answers to the answer key. If you scored at least 80 percent correct, you have passed this program and are ready to transfer your answers to the CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION UNITS (CPEU) REPORTING FORM. If you scored less than 80 percent correct, watch/listen and read again until you score at least 80 percent correct.
Complete the following optional steps to achieve real improvements in your presentation skills:
Step 5: Apply what you have learned by volunteering to present at every possible opportunity.
Step 6: Audio or videotape as many of your presentations as possible.
Step 7: Engage a coach or mentor to critique your presentations.
After you have successfully completed steps 1-4 complete and mail the CPEU REPORTING FORM to:
Wolf Rinke Associates, Inc., P.O. Box 350, Clarksville, MD 21029, USA
or fax it to us at: 410-531-9282
Upon receipt of your successfully completed CPEU REPORTING FORM, twelve (12) CPEUs will be reported to the accrediting agency of your association and you will receive a written certificate of completion from us.
I would like you to be able to deliver highly effective presentations for 1 or 1000. If you have questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact me so I can help you knock'em alive!
Wolf J. Rinke, PhD, RD, CSP, 800-828-9653, WolfRinke@aol.com
Goal and Objectives
Goal
This empowering learning program will provide you with specific fail-safe action strategies that will enable you to present and communicate more effectively with individuals and groups.
Objectives
As a result of applying the concepts from this self-directed learning program, you will be better able to:
· Master the top ten habits of highly effective presenters
· Communicate like a PRO
· Persuade and influence people
· Organize a powerful presentation on short notice
· Manage the presentation environment
· Harness your "butterflies" and get them to fly in formation
· Take advantage of the first five minutes of any presentation
· Keep your audience tuned in
· Use your body and voice to your advantage
· Handle questions more effectively
· Answer negative or cynical questions positively
· Improve your ability to "think on your feet"
· Achieve win-win outcomes more often
· Address hostile questions more effectively
· Master the use of blockbuster questions to improve communication and
cooperation
· Make others glad that they communicated with you
· Discover what it takes to become a professional speaker
· Dramatically improve your ability to present and communicate with individuals
and groups.
Table of Contents and page number
Chapter 1: The Top 10 Habits of Highly Effective Presenters 1
Know Thyself 1
Manage Thyself 2
Motivate Thyself. 3
Empathize with Others 4
Develop Charisma 4
Treat Your "Bodymind" Like a Temple 5
Have Fun 6
Be Honest 6
Let Go of the Past 7
Kill Your Ego 8
Summary 9
Notes 10
Chapter 2: Communicate Like a PRO 11
Utilize Adult Language 13
Accept 111 Percent Responsibility for the Communication Process 14
Listen Actively 15
Reality Test 16
Express Yourself in Positive Terms 17
Strive for Win-Win Outcomes 17
Convey Integrity at All Times 17
Get to the Point 18
Make Them Glad They Communicated with You 18
Summary 19
Notes 21
Chapter 3: How to Persuade and Influence an Audience 23
The Law of Liking-People like people who like them 23
The Law of Reciprocity-Whatever you give is what you're going to get 25
The Law of Commitment-
People are more likely to do what they commit to 26
The Law of Expertise-
People are more likely to heed the advice of experts 27
The Law of Scarcity-People want more of what they can't have 28
How to Take It to the Next Level 29
Summary 30
Notes 30
Chapter 4: Initial Preparation 31
Who Will Be There? 31
What Does the Audience Need to Learn from You? 32
When Will You Be Speaking? 32
Where Will You Be Speaking? 33
Why Are You Speaking? 33
How Will You Make Your Presentation? 34
Summary 34
Notes 35
Chapter 5: Organize Your Presentation 37
Introduction-Tell'em What You're Going to Tell Them 37
The Body of the Presentation-Tell'em 40
Conclusion-Tell'em What You Told'em 42
Summary 43
Notes 44
Chapter 6: Manage the Environment 45
Pay Attention to Logistics in Advance 45
Arrive at Least One Hour in Advance of the Presentation 46
Anticipate Murphy 47
Summary 47
Chapter 7: Harness the Butterflies 49
Expect to Have Fun 49
Feel Really Great About Yourself and What You Are About to Present 49
Know Five Times As Much As You Plan to Present 50
Practice Until You Get It Right 50
Visualize a Great Presentation in Advance 50
Over-Prepare 51
Use Your Nervous Energy to Your Advantage 52
Find a Friendly and Encouraging Face 52
Know What Your Audience Needs in Advance 52
Teach Yourself to Relax 53
Get Adequate Rest 54
Wear the Best Wardrobe You Can Afford 56
Socialize and Mingle with Your Audience in Advance 56
Identify Your Fears and Confront Them 57
One More Time, Recognize That Nervous
Energy Is Your Friend Not Your Foe 58
Summary 58
Notes 59
Chapter 8: Take Advantage of the First Five Minutes 61
Focus on Participants, Not on You or Your Talk 61
Break the Participants' Preoccupation 61
Pay Tribute or Better Yet Make Love to Your Audience 62
Make the Participants Feel Good About Themselves 62
Establish Your Credibility Early with a Strong Introduction 62
Use Humor If You Know How,
Otherwise Make Fun of Yourself, or Tell a Brief Story 63
Tell the Audience What They Will Get-WIIFM 64
Provide an Overview-A Road Map 64
Tell Them How You Want to Handle Questions 64
Over-Prepare the Most for the First Five Minutes 64
Don't Apologize for Anything 64
Don't Use Ethnic, Sexist, Gross, Obscene,
Offensive Humor, Comments or Remarks 65
Don't Be Aloof or Self-Centered 66
Case Study: How Not to Take Advantage of the
First Five Minutes and Screw-Up a Presentation 66
Summary 69
Notes 69
Chapter 9: Keep Your Audience Tuned In 71
Be Enthusiastic 71
Tell Personal or Humorous Stories 71
Engage the Right Side 74
Keep the Audience Involved 75
Use the Participants' Names 78
Deliver Education and Entertainment 79
Use Your Own Style 79
Use Your Own Words or Acknowledge Your Sources 80
Keep Addressing the WIIFM 81
Provide the Participants with Take-Away Materials 81
Tell People How They Can Reach You After the Presentation 82
Don't Read 82
Don't Get Your Ego in the Way 82
Don't Run Overtime 83
Answers to Mental Stretch Exercise 84
Summary 85
Notes 86
Chapter 10: Use Your Body and Voice to Your Advantage 87
Start with a Pause 88
Make Eye Contact 88
Use Your Body So That It Is Comfortable for You 89
Vary Your Body Movement 89
Adjust and Vary Your Energy Level 90
Breathe Diaphragmatically 90
Vary the Rhythm, Volume, Tone, Speed, and Pitch of Your Voice 91
Take Advantage of the "Recency Effect" 91
Protect Your Voice 92
Take Advantage of Pregnant Pauses 93
Get Excited and Passionate 94
Summary 94
Notes 95
Chapter 11: Handle Questions Effectively 97
Tell People How You Want to Handle Questions in Advance 98
Encourage Questions 98
Point with an Open Hand or Your Thumb 98
Thank or Compliment Participants Who Ask Questions 99
Repeat the Question 99
Answer Specifically and Concisely 99
Admit When You Don't Know the Answer 99
Ask the Audience for Help 100
Provide an Answer to the Entire Audience 100
Answer Negative or Cynical Questions Positively 100
Practice Responses to Tough Questions in Advance 100
Remember the Audience Wants You to Succeed 101
Don't Make Up Answers 101
Don't Be Evasive 101
Don't Lose Your Composure 102
A Better Way to Do Q&A 102
How to Deal with Hostile Questions 103
Summary 104
Chapter 12: How to Become a Professional Speaker 107
You've Got to Be Really Good 107
You've Got to Get Intensive Feedback 108
You've Got to Master the Business of Speaking 108
Summary 109
Notes 110
Appendices 111
Appendix A-Presentation Needs Assessment 113
Appendix B-Sample Introduction 119
Appendix C-Sample Room Layout 121
For Your Continuing Learning 123
Self-Assessment Questions 127
Answer Key 137
Explanations to Self-Assessment Questions 139
About the Author 143