Geiger - Better business speech: techniques and shortcuts for public speaking at work

Better Business Speech

Better Business Speech

Techniques, Tricks, and Shortcuts for Public Speaking at Work

Paul Geiger

ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD

Lanham Boulder New York London

Published by Rowman & Littlefield

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Copyright 2017 by Rowman & Littlefield

All rights reserved . No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote passages in a review.

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Information Available

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Geiger, Paul, 1959- author.

Title: Better business speech : techniques and shortcuts for public speaking at work / Paul Geiger.

Description: Lanham : Rowman & Littlefield, [2017] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2017008416| ISBN 9781538102053 (cloth) | ISBN 9781538102060 (electronic)

Subjects: LCSH: Public speaking. | Business presentations.

Classification: LCC PN4192.B87 G45 2017 | DDC 808.5/1dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017008416

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information SciencesPermanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.

Printed in the United States of America

Acknowledgments

I have always marveled at artistic creativity; in other words, creating something that previously was never there, but yet it was. I am a firm believer that in order to have an understanding of something, we have to already know it on some level. The true messengers bring these things into our awareness. The very definition of awareness is knowledge of a situation or fact. The following people already know what I am about to say on some level, but I feel compelled to make them truly aware anyway.

I want to thank my parents, Paul and Betsy Geiger, for showing me the strength to endure and the humility that allows for real learning.

It should come as no surprise that it is my children, Jessica, Shaun, and Brian, who inspire me to be the best version of myselfeveryday!

I am truly grateful for my dear friend, Ray Andersen, who reminds me that there are so many beautiful ways to look at the world. He is the entrusted guardian of my creative spirit.

Please allow me to praise Jim and Molly Perry for their unending faith, support, and trust. They asked the question, What do you really want to do? And this time, I was ready with an answer.

I want to thank the universe for connecting me with Al Pittampalli, who planted the seed for this project when he spoke the prophetic words, When you decide to write your book, let me know. Until then, I had never even considered adding author to my CV.

My wonderful teachers and coaches over the years must also be acknowledged. They have all been traveling on a similar journey to figure out how to communicate the noblest aspects of life and then how to share that ability with as many kindred spirits as possible.

Heartfelt appreciation must go out to the wondrous Tim Phillips, whose acting method taught me how important it is to stay grounded in your body, follow your impulses, and remain truthful and authentic.

I am indebted to all of my clients through the years who brought their challenges and then trusted me to find a practical answer. Their needs forced me to follow my intuition, dig a little deeper, and create a better way.

My colleagues at New York Speech Coaching are without peer. In particular, Justin Stoney, John West, and Alaina Fragoso have been amazingly supportive and understanding of the time and focus that was required to complete this project.

I cannot thank Suzanne Staszak-Silva at Rowman & Littlefield enough for recognizing the need for a book like Better Business Speech and being my champion.

Finally, I dedicate this book to my amazing wife, Jan. Her spirit has inspired me and moved me since the day I met her. Yes, my heart is in this book, but ultimately, it is in her hands.

Introduction

The Shortest Distance

A uthenticity trumps intelligence! There, I said it, or rather, I wrote it. Trust me, I have said it many times, most often to my speech clients looking for the fastest way to promote themselves in business. Dont get me wrong. Intelligence is a wonderful thing to have. But if you cant communicate your ideas with a sense of confidence and authenticity, no one will believe in them. But how do you become an authentic speaker when you cant seem to get past the discomfort and anxiety of public speaking?

The perception of being an authentic speaker is generated by just two things: owning your breathing and bumper stickers. The first thing seems pretty simple. We all breathe constantly; we ought to be pretty good at it. But most people dont breathe very efficiently, and they certainly dont know how to access the true power of their breath for speech. Breathing and breath support are the keys to the projection and enhancement of your voice. Remarkably, they can be both your physical relaxation and your forward momentum, all at once.

Bumper stickers is the term I use to describe concise messages. A bumper sticker always includes your understanding and perspective, and it is short enough to fit on the back of a car bumper. It isnt an elevator pitch; theyre much too long. The discipline of finding and using bumper stickers leads to clarity of thought and the increased confidence many refer to as Executive Presence.

You gain confidence when you gain control of your speech technique. Knowing there are steps you can take begins the process of empowering each individual to become more expressive and more persuasive in a truthful and authentic way. The approach is both physical and mentalbreathing and bumper stickers!

There are many books on speech, the voice and public speaking out theremany boring books. Through my years of teaching I have learned to distill the massive amounts of speech and phonetics information into usable concepts with actionable steps and exercises. Even my eyes glaze over when I see someone trying to cover it alland Im a voice geek! What most people want is a guide that shows them how to use speech coaching in a practical way. My very simple approach is: relaxation leads to comfort, which leads to confidence. Of course, there is a certain amount of trust involved too. You have to trust your impulses, you have to trust your perspective, and you have to trust this approach enough to be willing to change for the better.

Speaking Up (Meetings and Conference Calls)

Meeting Challenges

M eetings and conference calls are an unfortunate obligation of every businesspersons weekly (if not daily) routine. If your desire is to promote yourself and your ideas, you have to not only show upyou have to speak up. The ability to present yourself during meetings and conference calls requires the same attention to technique as improving the sound of your voice, except that the stakes are higher. You might not have an issue with your voice, but confidence in your speech technique is crucial to your success. You need to rely on it to make a strong start and keep peoples attention. First impressions and subsequent perceptions have a tendency to last. It can be frustrating to feel as if you havent lived up to your expectations or your potential.

Meeting Challenge #1 is knowing when to jump in. You are expected to contribute during meetings and conference calls. There is no way around it. Sometimes a segment of a meeting is your responsibility; other times you simply need to look for your opportunities. The reality is that your career depends on it. But there are physical and mental obstacles that can make it difficult to feel comfortable with jumping in and speaking up. You might feel as if the moment of relevance for your comment has already passed, which of course it has. Your comments can often feel as if they are coming out of nowhere, interrupting the current flow of dialogue. The anticipation of that sudden rush of attention when its your turn can also tend to hold you back.