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1. Secrets of Platform Effectiveness     3
Public Speaking: Dispelling the Top Ten Myths     4
The Most Common Mistakes Speakers Make     7
Present or Perish! Why You Must Have Presentation Skills     10
You've Got to Have Style     12

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2. Sizzle or Steak?     19
Sizzle or Steak: An Ongoing Debate     19
Everything Is Communication     22
Acts of Sabotage         25
Checklist for Visual Delivery Skills     47
Checklist for Vocal Delivery Skills     48
Checklist for Verbal Delivery Skills     50

3. Fear Fixes: Conquering Nervousness     53
Nerves, Not Phobia     56
Mental, Physical, Behavioral, and Chemical Remedies for Nervousness     57
Special Situations     78
Checklist for Managing Nervousness     80

4. Listening: The Other Side of Speaking     83
The Four Steps of Listening     85
What Is Your LQ (Listening Quotient)?     87
The Benefits of Listening     88
Myths about Listening     89
Barriers to Listening     90
Three Levels of Listening     96
Listening and You, the Presenter     97
When Not to Listen     100
Becoming a Better Listener     100
Tips to Help Your Audience Listen to You     102
Checklist for Listening     104

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5. Research and Analyze Your Audience     109
Types of Audiences: Specialist vs. Generalist     110
Special Audiences     111
Speaking Overseas     116
Developing a Listener Profile     119
Today's Audience Culture     123
But I Don't Have Time...     126
Physical Styles     127
Learning Styles of Your Audience     128
Before the Presentation     132
Checklist for Analyzing Your Audience     134

6. Building Your Presentation 137
Create a Clear Focus     138
How to Research Material for Your Presentation     140
Speaking Is Not Writing     142
Structuring Your Presentation     142
Transitions: Road Signs Along the Way     156
Developing the Details     157
It Ain't Over till It's Over     160
Checklist for Structuring Your Presentations     162

7. Listener-Centered Communication: Principles of Persuasion 165
Tune into Your Listeners     166
Six Simple Steps to Sell Listeners on Your Ideas     166
The Elements of Persuasion     168
The Language of Persuasion     171
Persuading Listeners by Outlining the Benefits     175
The HIRBEC Model and Persuasion     175
Checklist for Persuasive Presentations     180

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8. Seeing Is Believing: Visual Aids 185
Developing Effective Visual Aids     186
Tips for Using Color, Graphics, and Text     187
Choosing the Right Visual Aids     191
Creating Visual Aids 193
Tips for Using Visual Aids Effectively     194
Some Final Thoughts on Visual Aids     201
Checklist for Visual Aids     204

9. Setting the Stage     206
Room Setup     207
Lecterns and Microphones     213
Visual Aids, Pictograms, Notecards, and Manuscripts     216
Creating a Positive Atmosphere     222
The First Thirty Minutes     224
The BASH Approach to Setting the Stage     225
Positioning Your Presentation     226
Checklist for Setting the Stage     228

10. Q&A, Difficult People, and Deadly Disasters     232
Five-Step Process for Handling Questions and Answers     233
Signs of Resistance     241
Managing Difficult People     242
Disaster Recovery     247
Checklist for Handling Q and A, Difficult People, and Disasters     253

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11. Special Speaking Situations 259
Making an Introduction     260
Leaving a Voice Mail Message     261
Presenting at a Trade Show     262
Doing Team Presentations     265
Chairing a Meeting     266
Giving a Motivational Keynote     268
Conducting Seminars and Workshops     269
Doing One-to-One Presentations     271
Delivering Sales Presentation     272
Making Impromptu Presentations     274
Participating in Media Interviews     275
Video conferencing     277
Taking the Next Step    279

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Professional Associations     281
Training Materials     283
Phobia Treatment     284
Evaluate Your Presentation     285
Recommended Reading     285

For a demo video, audio tape, and/or press kit, please contact:
DiResta Communications, Inc.
31 E. 32nd. Street, Suite 300, New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212-481-8484 Ext. 312 | E-mail: info@diresta.com
Web Site: www.diresta.com
 
Certified women owned business
through the National Minority Business Council
 

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