Bad Speaker Syndrome, Wayne Kronz

Bad Speaker Syndrome, Wayne Kronz

View more presentations or Upload your own.

Stage fright and lack of confidence plague many public speakers. Some say, “this is normal, , , and to be expected.”

I say differently, “the great majority of public speakers and presenters should be able to get rid of most, if not all of this anxiety.”

If this fear was always there every time I spoke, I’d just not speak any more. But, at least once a week, I hop right up front expecting nothing but a positive outcome. And it usually works out just that way.

Honestly, I look forward to every time I speak. (And not because I'm a good speaker.)

But I hasten to say, everyone isn’t like me. Fear, anxiety and lack of confidence bog many down. They simply hate to have to speak. They may be caught up in what I call the “Bad Speaker Syndrome.”

It begins with memory of someone who was a bad speaker, , , maybe even themselves. It could be anybody. They visualize the tag, “bad speaker.”

“Bad Speakers” bore audiences. And it’s true. At least most of the time. And, particularly when they use 50 PowerPoint slides full of nothing but bullet points and text to tiny to read.

Then come the insults. This does really happen, , , but it need not happen to you.

As a general rule, audiences want you to succeed as a presenter. They’re “on your side.” But, mess up enough and they will talk, , , and it will not be pretty.

But things do not have to fall apart that much for you. Do a few things right and you are in for an acceptable presentation.

But, remarks can and do hurt. At least that may be your perception. Add in another round of insults and your mind will begin to play tricks on you.

You may follow with a, , ,

“Not Me.” I don’t have to put up with this stuff. . .

And the fear just builds into a giant mountain. Worse yet, you may just quit and never give another presentation in your life. Got Nood!

The above pattern has halted many careers and personal development endeavors. It’s a syndrome you don’t want to fall into.

I have ways you can use to insure that you never fall into this pattern of negative thinking. And most of these “ways” have to do with the multitude of visual tools you can use in your presentations.

Keep your eyes fixed on this blog.

Wayne

Presenters; Come Join the iSpring/SlideBoom Boom

Every since 1997 when I first met PowerPoint, and began discovering its pros and cons I’ve heard people ask, “What’s wrong with PowerPoint? ? ? After all, it’s only a tool, , , if there is a bad presentation, then there must be a lousy user somewhere.”

And this is partially true.

But, , , every time I hear the “What’s wrong with PPT, , ,” question my figure shoots up into the air. I’m not thinking about the user. It’s “PowerPoint right out of the box” that concerns me.

“What is it Wayne?” you’re asking.

“It’s the file!” I scream. And that is a result of the disks that come right out of the box from Microsoft. It’s their programming.

For starters, a PowerPoint file is much to large (compared to a Flash file). And Flash is the basis of online video. Plus, these files are very messy to work with when it comes to posting them online and in emails.

Of course, I’m a techno-zero, but that’s my perspective.

I do love the PowerPoint tool package, but in my opinion it is not arranged right. And most of its’ bullet point infested templates and wizards are third rate, at best.*

Many of these tools are very nice, , , if, and only if they are used correctly.

My personal problem is that I’m not a PPT basher. I use it virtually every day. It would be difficult for me to do without. So, now is the time for me to put this whole discussion into full prospective.

In recent weeks I have become a huge fan of a Web 2.0 PowerPoint to Flash converter called iSpring. I use the free version appropriately called, iSpring Free (found at http://www.ispringfree.com/ ). It’s amazing.

I’d like to commend its creators!

First, they have the Flash conversion process down pat, , , it works like a charm. Second, they nail it when it comes to “user friendliness.” Even this old-timer can get the job done quite nicely. And third, little or nothing that is generated in PowerPoint is lost in the process.

Kudos to the iSpring team!

Last but not least, is their free hosting service, SlideBoom.com. You have to check it out.

They have over 4,000 contributing artist, many of which have well over 200 presentations posted. So it’s a hefty little beast.

Again, I’m a simple guy. I do not understand the first thing about programming or software design. All I know is when I see something (like iSpring) that really works.

It seems to me that a big outfit like Microsoft could have done everything that the iSpring gang has done, including the free hosting website, a decade ago.

Instead they have simply let its users suffer through all the speed-bumps associated with posting slideshows or videos online.

Or maybe, I’m just full of it.

Wayne

* And if Bill Gates and his gang want to know how to re-arrange PPT, I’d be glad to help out with my “one module” solution. For a fee of course.