<![CDATA[School of Speaking, Singapore

<![CDATA[School of Speaking, Singapore - Blog]]>Mon, 29 Apr 2024 08:02:39 +0800Weebly<![CDATA[Power of WORDs]]>Tue, 31 Dec 2019 02:10:46 GMThttp://schoolofspeaking.com.sg/blog/power-of-words“It’s not in the numbers, it’s in the formula’

Do you feel that sometimes you try to explain something but after using many words and paraphrasing many times your audience is give you a clueless look? Words are like numbers, individually they make no sense, when put together, like numbers they solve a problem.

In my last blog I mentioned that we all possess different dominant learning styles. So it’s not just what you say but also how you say it.

For example, the visual learners learned through pictures. How about using words to paint a picture in their minds? An example is this quote by Saint mother Theresa - ‘Live simply so others can simply live’. If you are a visual learner does the quote conjure a picture of a simple living?

- when we use words that rhymes we create the repetitive and effects of recurring words or sounds - auditory effects. Isn’t this why some of us can still remember our nursery rhymes?

- when we use words like - he tripped, turned and tumbled to the ground, the use of a verb conjures image of movement and start them all with the same letter ‘t’ three times on a verb we appeal to the kinestatic nature of the being, the words on movement. Kinestatic learners learn best when he/she observes a act taking place in a situation. Example, a friend of mine who is a counselor and therapist recently got approached by his teenage daughter to help a friend who was hospitalized and has depression and experiencing anxiety as well. Late one night the friend called his daughter, crying and wailing, in the hospital. His daughter beg her dad to see her friend and though it was very late my friend obliged. After seeing her father at work the girl was totally impressed. When we met with her afterwards, she could describe every action and words spoken that night in details. She’s a kinestatic learner and her observational skill was at its sharpest when she sees work in action and especially in situation she herself is involved it.

It pays to know the type of learners you are speaking to so that you would know the appropriate words and approach. Right words not only sends the message, it seals the deal as well. Have fun practicing!

]]><![CDATA[Know your Audience]]>Tue, 03 Dec 2019 04:01:37 GMThttp://schoolofspeaking.com.sg/blog/know-your-audience“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle” - Sun Tzu, The Art of War

There are broadly 3 types of learning styles- Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic (movement). It helps to know the learning style of your audience so we can craft our speech accordingly.

Visual Learners: Tend to focus on things they see, they visualize and learn through seeing pictures and graphs.

Auditory Learners: Those who tend to understand and absorb a message better through hearing the information.

Kinesthetic Learners: Those who can relate to movements such as when you ‘act out’ a scene or a message. They need to engage in an activity in order to grasp a concept.

Above gives an overview of each learning style but this is not to say that if you display the style of a visual learner then you are not an auditory learner. We may possess more than one style but one would usually dominate.

When speaking to a group of listeners, it is also unrealistic to assume that your audience all possess the same dominant style. Which is why it is important to vary our speech to cater to all styles. This will be covered in my next blog, stay tune.

]]><![CDATA[Call to action]]>Wed, 20 Nov 2019 09:09:50 GMThttp://schoolofspeaking.com.sg/blog/call-to-action*There is a saying ‘don’t talk if you have nothing to say’. I’ll improvise on this, ‘don’t talk unless you know what to say’. What do I mean?

There needs to be a purpose to what you say. Whether it is to instruct someone to do something (instructive), to persuade someone to adopt your view point (persuasive) or simply to inform someone for their knowledge (informative). Whatever you say, should lead to a desired outcome. This is also known as ‘Call to Action’. When you communicate, keep in mind this ‘Call to Action’ and tailor your speech accordingly. As an example, an instructive speech could be more structural and systematic, appealing to one’s logic for understanding while a persuasive speech should appeal more to the emotion. Think about that when you make your next speech.

]]><![CDATA[Adrenaline Rush]]>Fri, 08 Nov 2019 03:41:40 GMThttp://schoolofspeaking.com.sg/blog/adrenaline-rushBeing nervous is normal regardless of how prepared you are. Sometimes even though you may feel perfectly calm and peaceful inside, you can still experience rapid heartbeat and sweaty palms. It may not be nervousness that you are feeling, but a case of adrenaline rush. It is not uncommon to experience a sudden increase in heartbeat, rapid breathing or even trembling hands just before a major presentation or interview.

This phenomenal is known as an ‘Adrenaline rush’. it is a physical feeling of intense excitement (nervousness) and stimulation caused by the release of the hormone adrenaline from the adrenal glands into the bloodstream. This happens when you are in a heightened state of physical and mental alertness. Sometimes watching a horror movie can also cause an adrenaline rush. As long as it's not long-lasting, adrenaline rush can temporarily increase one’s strength, sharpens one’s mental focus, allowing a person to think quickly (on his feet) and effectively. This can be extremely helpful especially during a debate or Q & A session where one is under time constraint to come up with an answer. It naturally negates nerves, creating a platform for you to express yourself while feeling less fearful of rejection.

While the intense feeling may seem overwhelming sometimes you even feel your voice trembling. Truth is, only in extreme cases can others detect this ‘nervousness’, so don’t be too worried with the trembling voice or shaking hands, most of the time these are not noticeable by your audience. You are the only one who notices it because it magnifies within you. So focus on your presentation, use the adrenaline rush to heighten your senses and sharpen your reflexes and not let it worry you.

]]><![CDATA[Taking Action]]>Tue, 22 Oct 2019 16:00:00 GMThttp://schoolofspeaking.com.sg/blog/taking-action

A picture paints a thousand words, so does appropriate ACTION when speaking. Some research findings support that non-verbal communication can be a lot more effective in sending across a message than mere words. And when the action of the speaker is not in sync with his/her words, the audience tends to believe in what he/she sees rather than hears.

It is therefore important to remember, content is not all, non-verbal cues play an important role in determining whether a is trustworthy, reliable and confident. Present yourself in the way you want others to see you.

“Effective communication is 20% what you know and 80% how you feel about what you know.”
-Jim Rohn

Talking like Ted is not impossible, public speaking fear can be conquered and skills can be developed. Be prepared to talk like Ted today!

]]><![CDATA[Be Authentic]]>Tue, 08 Oct 2019 16:00:00 GMThttp://schoolofspeaking.com.sg/blog/be-authenticWe talk about knowing your audience in the last blog, when you know your audiences you can tailor your speech to suit the audience so they can relate with you, with what you say and with your ideas.

Be authentic when you speak. What does that mean? It means..

1. Be comfortable- Be yourself. If you can’t, the audience won’t be as well. This include being able to laugh at yourself (sometimes). I know of someone who made a mistake on stage and when he realized the mistake, instead of trying to cover up, he joked that it was a purposeful mistake to see who is awake and who is not. Turn an embarrassing moment into a light heated one and the audience will warm up to you.

2. Be ‘personal’ by relating a personal story on the issue and the situation you are speaking about. Personal story sells. And being vulnerable enough to share your story is a way to be authentic. This not only creates a trust bond, it establishes credibility.

3. Be natural - Be yourself, relax, like how you are always relaxed when you present your ideas and thoughts to your friends and family members. Why not on stage and to strangers as well?

]]><![CDATA[Want to talk like ‘Ted’?]]>Tue, 24 Sep 2019 07:58:33 GMThttp://schoolofspeaking.com.sg/blog/want-to-talk-like-ted

'Ted Talks’ is one of the world’s most recognized public speaking forum. Speakers on ‘Ted Talks’ always seem to deliver fantastic and impressive speeches, speaking like professional public speakers, creating a lasting impression for their audiences.

Truth is, many of these speakers on ‘Ted Talks’ may be subject matter experts in their respective fields, they are not professionally trained public speakers. Where public speaking is concerned, they are amateurs (even novice) like you & I. Hence if they can do it, so can you. Talk like ‘Ted’ as Ted can ‘Talk’.

Here are 3 public speaking tips to be an effective speaker:

1. Know your audience - think in their shoes and walk the talk. Understand their objectives, what are they looking for & what do they want to hear. Public speaking is not about you but your audience.
- “The success of your presentation will be judged not by the knowledge you send but by what the listener receives.” - Lilly Walters

2. Prepare well – a well prepared speech has a CONCISE structure and PRECISE context. Tell them what you want to say and say it.

3. Finally, it all comes down to PRACTICE. So practise, practise, practise. As Mark Twain said, “It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech”, so what are you waiting for? Let's get started right away.

To talk like the speakers in ‘Ted Talks’ is not impossible; just know that the fear of public speaking is a fear that can be conquered.

In my next few blogs I will share more tips on how to prepare well, effective delivery etc. STAY TUNED!

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