The Public Speaking Resource: Keynote Speakers, Motivational Speakers, Professional Speake

Thanks for this useful tips....

2010-06-03T05:50:14.110-05:00

Thanks for this useful tips....

A very good site. More power.

2010-06-03T05:26:04.994-05:00

A very good site. More power.

Thanks, Ginger. I know you wrote this last year, b...

2010-05-26T19:08:49.549-05:00

Thanks, Ginger. I know you wrote this last year, but it's exactly what I was looking for.
Jennie dugan

Awesome post. More power.

2010-05-14T04:06:18.339-05:00

Awesome post. More power.

A very good post.

2010-05-14T04:03:02.217-05:00

A very good post.

A very good post. Keep on uploading more.

2010-05-14T03:54:46.925-05:00

A very good post. Keep on uploading more.

Excellent! Nice site!

2010-05-07T03:21:02.137-05:00

Excellent! Nice site!

Great! I am glad for the video you've posted.. Hop...

2010-05-07T02:31:52.850-05:00

Great! I am glad for the video you've posted.. Hope to see more..

A really good site.. thanks for posting..

2010-05-06T01:38:44.850-05:00

A really good site.. thanks for posting..

I am glad you have posted this wonderful message.....

2010-05-05T05:05:34.007-05:00

I am glad you have posted this wonderful message.. More power.

Great! Glad to hear this useful tips...

2010-05-03T05:00:37.450-05:00

Great! Glad to hear this useful tips...

Thanks for the video.. nice one.

2010-05-03T04:37:55.241-05:00

Thanks for the video.. nice one.

Thanks for sharing this important information..

2010-04-29T04:27:27.802-05:00

Thanks for sharing this important information..

If you want to succeed in something, you need to b...

2009-10-16T14:52:31.781-05:00

If you want to succeed in something, you need to be able to speak and motivate people. I work at Narconon's drug rehab and I do drug education. I talk to about 70,000 kids per year. So it is very important for me to get my point across to the kids because they are the future of out country.

This was just what I needed. I've been speaking in...

2009-08-25T21:30:22.803-05:00

This was just what I needed. I've been speaking in schools, and on the streets, and in private studio sessions as a motivator. I love it-to see that person get the message. Now I'm trying to take it to a professional level. And your blog, is right on time.

Thanks,
Albert Hardin

I can tell you have a great sense of humor! Your b...

2009-04-05T18:29:00.000-05:00

I can tell you have a great sense of humor! Your books are probably a joy to read as well as being dead on. I'd love to review your book. I'll email you privately. Thank for your contributions to this subject. I hope you will do a guest blog for us sometime. ~ Ginger

Hands down, this is the best article on hands I've...

2009-04-05T18:25:00.000-05:00

Hands down, this is the best article on hands I've ever read!

Hi Ginger,Thanks for quoting my article - the ligh...

2009-04-04T12:07:00.000-05:00

Hi Ginger,

Thanks for quoting my article - the light fist you describe conveys an aura of trust and credibility; no wonder we see politicians and especially presidents use this gesture a LOT. I hate to sound cynical, but I'm reminded of the old joke "how do you know when a politician is lying?" - "whenever you see their lips moving" Light fist is the cure... hmm, think they may have been coached?

Many smokers I've talked to say that holding a cigarette gives them something to do with their hands. I don't recommend that as a solution for speakers or anyone else. What to do with those things dangling at the end of our arms, anyway? - actually just having hands naturally at our sides is perfectly okay too. Right here on your blog I'm giving all speakers blanket permission to stop worrying about what to do with their hands. Ready, set, go!

Pointing: if you DO point at them, you had better be serious! But be careful, that thing might be loaded. I don't know for sure if pointing is rude or not, but it for sure will get their attention! Here's my little secret: I point at the ground, raise my voice volume a bit, and emphasize specific words to really drive a point home (pardon the pun).

Finally, I'd like to underscore your point about "some organizations" putting waaay too much emphasis on "now move like this, now gesture like that" - while there is definitely ways to use nonverbals in order to make a predictable impact on an audience (such as the light fist, pointing, etc.) presentation skills in and of themselves are meaningless unless directed to a specific outcome - I prefer outcomes for myself and my students such as, oh, let me think... larger bank account balances. Standing ovations and applause never get old, but never pay the bills either!

Finally, a lot of trainers say keep your hands out of your pockets and I, like you, don't see that as an issue. At the same time, I'm still giving everyone permission as of this moment to feel perfectly comfortable with hands naturally at their sides.

Best,
David Portney
PS: If you'd like a review copy of one of my books sent to you, just let me know.

Aboslutely! It appears that somebody put a bowl fu...

2009-04-03T14:03:00.000-05:00

Aboslutely! It appears that somebody put a bowl full of Amy's ice cream in front of me before I had finished this post :) I'll put up some more in the next few days.

Nice tight description. Now if you could go into a...

2009-03-24T10:10:00.000-05:00

Nice tight description. Now if you could go into a little detail in separate posts about each one of these areas, that would be great. Thanks!

Thanks for this info! I'm putting a speaking kit t...

2009-02-25T18:30:00.000-06:00

Thanks for this info! I'm putting a speaking kit together and I'm overwhelmed. Looking for good advice.