Watch Out For Power Thieves

"I'm not an expert on this topic, but . . ."

"This isn't exactly an exciting topic, but . . ."

"I hope you'll find this interesting."

"Had I more time to prepare . . ."

These expressions all have the same thing in common. They cause your audience to wonder why you ? and especially they ? are there. Each statement communicates the same message: "This isn't going to be a very good use of your time ? get a seat close to the door." They are unnecessary and harmful statements. They are "power thieves" that sap the energy from your ideas. The three greatest thieves are apologies, feeble phrases, and weak words. Attack them on every front.

Run from weak words and feeble phrases. People may forget what they hear, but they will remember what they see. That's why someone once said, "The most effective orator is someone who can make people see with their ears." The well-chosen word has the ability to create a vivid, and unforgettable, mental image.

One way to make sure your listeners "see" your words is to avoid euphemisms ? words that make concepts more politically correct, but are vague and less picturesque. (In other words, don't perspire when you should sweat.) These days, people no longer die, they pass away, terminate or expire. If you want to work out, you don't go to a smelly gymnasium, you join a spa or fitness center. We used to fire people, now we downsize, right-size, restructure or re-engineer.

Here is a final point to make: Can you visualize an undertaker? What color suit is he wearing? Can you visualize a "bereavement counselor?" Of course not. You can't even see the person, let alone the clothes. And that's the problem with euphemisms ? sometimes termed "business bureaucratese" ? they suck the juices out of your words.

Well-chosen words give your speech the power to captivate, mesmerize, and rivet your audience. You'll command attention when you sound convincing, authoritative, and credible.

Excerpted from the Sandler training program Presenting Yourself with Impact ©1997. All rights reserved.

Dan Hudock is an owner of the Sandler Sales Institute in Pittsburgh, PA. He can be reached at (724) 940-2388 or dan@sandler.com. His web site is: http://www.dan.sandler.com

---

How to Give a Great Speech

As a former owner of a National Speakers Bureau, I... Read More

Being Real From the Platform

"Let it be known, no person, thing, or situation... Read More

Steps to a Successful Audience/Trainer Relationship

A major cause of trainers being unreceptive to their audience... Read More

Cell Phone Dos And Dont During A Meeting

What would we do without our cell phones? Wow, there's... Read More

Presentation Paranoia

"The human brain starts working the moment you are born... Read More

I Love the Smell of PowerPoint in the Morning: The 5 Sensory Approach to Business Presentations

You're in a conference room. You're giving a PowerPoint presentation... Read More

Let Me Tell You a Little Story

Once upon a time there was a businessperson who had... Read More

27 Tips For An Effective Presentation

So you're not a professional speaker. That's no excuse for... Read More

Public Speaking Training Tips For Better Business Presentations To Culturally Diverse Audiences

Audiences around the world are all different. Cultural, social and... Read More

Audience-Friendly Presentation Style Habits in Three Easy Steps

You have presentation style habits that automatically appear when you... Read More

Total Recall: How to Remember Your Speech Without Memorizing

We all fear that moment. You look out on a... Read More

Top 6 Reasons Why You Need a Remote for PowerPoint Presentations

A top complaint from audience members is that many presenters... Read More

The Crucial Components of a Lesson Plan

MAKING INFORMATIVE LESSON PLANS: --The performance objectives should answer this... Read More

Kvetching Behavior and How it Hinders Success

Kvetching is the Yiddish word for complaining, hand to the... Read More

Fading into Sameness: How Too Many Slides Can Ruin Your Presentation

"I have a love/hate relationship with PowerPoint. In the right... Read More

How To Run Your Greatest Conference Ever

Like most good achievements, a magnificent meeting depends on planning... Read More

How to Make Good Use of Your Web Conference Session

Preperation is vital when conducting a successful videoconference session. Thus... Read More

Tough Talk: Bad News Delivered the Right Way

Communicating Bad News The Right WayIt's the rare executive who... Read More

Keeping Meetings Productive

KEEPING MEETINGS PRODUCTIVE: Whether participants approve or disapprove of an... Read More

Develop The Winners Edge Through Conversational Hypnosis

Communication is vital for survival in an age of information... Read More

Super Preparation ? Keys to Getting a Great Start to Every Presentation

Super Preparation ?Keys to Getting a Great Start to Every... Read More

Seven Tips for Coping with Pre-Stage Jitters

Whether you need to address large groups or small, familiar... Read More

How to Attract New Business Like George W. Bush Wins Elections

THE LITTLE-KNOWN SPEECHWRITING SECRETS THAT WON GEORGE W. BUSH THE... Read More

Qualities of Good Communication

Webster's Dictionary defines communication as "a giving or exchanging of... Read More

Guidelines for Rehearsal Criticism

It is both good planning and considerate to provide auditors... Read More

How to Convert PowerPoint to Flash Manually

Converting PowerPoint to Flash would be absolutely a good choice... Read More

Four Different Ways People Process Your Information

There are four different ways that audience members assimilate information.... Read More

Tips to Energize Your Presentations

"There can be no knowledge without emotion. We may be... Read More

Can Stage Presence be Learned?

What is stage presence? Can it be learned?There are, undoubtedly,... Read More

10 Tips For Bringing Your Event To Life

Your job as an event planner doesn't stop with the... Read More

Polishing Your Sales Presentation

Summer is here! It's time to bring out your summer... Read More

Cross Cultural Presentations

The international flavour of many people's jobs naturally means that... Read More

A Powerful Presentation Technique-Story Telling

Appealing to emotions is the most powerful way to transfer... Read More