The Truth About Confident Presenting

Praise for The Truth About Confident Presenting   "O'Rourke goes beyond the typical list of speaking tips and packs a lot of wisdom into his 51 truths. He explains the critical link between the content of a speech and its ultimate effectiveness, illuminating the powerful connection between preparation and performance. Speakers who follow his winning formula are sure to find a grateful audience." R. Jeep Bryant, Executive Vice President, Chief Communications Officer, The Bank of New York Mellon   "From strategy to tactics, the 51 common-sense 'truths' in this book are useful, practical, and easy to adapt. Even reading just a few chapters will help to make you a better speaker. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to the executive speakers I work with." Jan Botz, Executive Director, Chief Communications Officer, Dow Corning Corporation   “Whether you are speaking to a large audience, your boss, your employees, or your kids, you will feel more confident and prepared, and be far more effective, after reading this book. O’Rourke provides simple, doable tips that really make a difference. From caring to preparing, you’ll learn what it takes to engage your audience and make your message count!" Patty Blackburn, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, RSM McGladrey, Inc.   “The Truth About Confident Presenting is an excellent, practical guide for anyone who aspires to deliver effective and engaging presentations. It is a valuable resource for the novice as well as veteran speakers.” Catherine V. Babington, Vice President, Public Affairs, Abbott Laboratories   “Years of successful presentation experience condensed into an easily digestible but invaluable checklist for anyone wishing to channel natural anxiety over public speaking into improving their presentation skills. Filled with real-world examples and anecdotes, O’Rourke focuses on the essentials of great presenting.” Tim Andree, Chief Executive Officer, Dentsu America   All you need to know to make winning presentations--fearlessly and painlessly •        The truth about preparing quickly, efficiently, and well •        The truth about managing anxiety and handling hostile audiences •        The truth about nonverbal signals, PowerPoint, microphones, and more   This book reveals 51 proven and bite-size, easy-to-use presenting techniques that work.    This book brings together everything you need to know to prepare well, manage anxiety, deliver effectively, connect with your audience, and succeed! Authored by top business consultant James O’Rourke, this book offers real solutions for the obstacles and fears faced by every presenter. You'll discover what makes people listen, and what instantly turns them off. You’ll learn how to prepare effectively, not obsessively; how to scope out your audience and muster evidence that'll convince them; when and how to listen; how to manage anxiety and establish a great first impression; how to make nonverbal cues work for you; how to use PowerPoint well; how to handle hostile questions confidently; and much more.   This isn't someone's opinion: it's a definitive guide to effective presenting—a set of bedrock principles you can rely on to help you win with any audience.

Table of Contents:
                     Introduction  v Part I            Some Initial Truths Truth 1          Public speaking is not easy, but it’s certainly doable  1 Truth 2          The key to success is preparation  5 Truth 3          Rehearsal is essential  9 Truth 4          Emulating good speakers will make you better  13 Truth 5          Establish goals for your presentation  17 Truth 6          A presentation is a learning occasion  21   Part II           The Truth About Getting Ready to Speak Truth 7          Talk is the work  25 Truth 8          Know what your audience is looking for  29 Truth 9          There is a difference between speaking and writing  33 Truth 10        Preparing a presentation is a relatively simple process  37 Truth 11        Begin by analyzing your audience  41 Truth 12        Know about your audience  45   Part III          The Truth About What Makes People Listen Truth 13        Understand what makes people listen  49 Truth 14        Your speaking style makes a difference  53 Truth 15        Anticipate the questions your audience brings to your presentation  57 Truth 16        Listening matters  61 Truth 17        Being an active listener brings real benefits  65 Truth 18        You can overcome the barriers to successful communication  69   Part IV          The Truth About Developing Support for Your Presentation Truth 19        Develop support for your presentation  73 Truth 20        Understand the power of your content  77 Truth 21        The kinds and quality of evidence matter to your audience  81 Truth 22        Structure can help carry an inexperienced speaker  85 Truth 23        Find support for your presentation  89 Truth 24        Use the Internet to support your presentation  93   Part V           The Truth About Getting Up to Speak Truth 25        Select a delivery approach  97 Truth 26        Your introduction forms their first impression  101 Truth 27        Begin with a purpose in mind  105 Truth 28        Keep your audience interested  109 Truth 29        Conclusions are as important as introductions  113 Truth 30        Have confidence in your preparation  117 Truth 31        Repeat the process as often as possible  121   Part VI          The Truth About Managing Anxiety Truth 32        All speakers get nervous  125 Truth 33        Recognize anxiety before it begins  129 Truth 34        Deal with nervous behaviors  133 Truth 35        Keep your nervousness to yourself  137   Part VII         The Truth About Nonverbal Communication Truth 36        Most information is transferred nonverbally  141 Truth 37        The nonverbal process can work for you  145 Truth 38        Nonverbal communication has specific functions  149 Truth 39        Nonverbal communication is governed by key principles  153 Truth 40        Nonverbal communication has an effect on your audience  157   Part VIII        The Truth About Visual Aids Truth 41        Visual aids can help your audience understand your message  161 Truth 42        Understand visual images before you use them  165 Truth 43        Choose the right visual  169 Truth 44        Use PowerPoint effectively  173 Truth 45        Consider speaking without visuals  177   Part IX         The Truth About Handling an Audience Truth 46        Assess the mood of your audience  181 Truth 47        Answer the audience's questions  185 Truth 48        Handle hostility with confidence  189   Part X          The Truth About What Makes a Presentation Work Truth 49        Know as much as possible about the location  193 Truth 50        Use the microphone to your advantage  197 Truth 51        Know your limits  201                        References  205                      Acknowledgments  207                      About the Author  209    

About the Author :
James S. O’Rourke, IV teaches management and corporate communication at the University of Notre Dame, where he is a Concurrent Professor of Management and the Arthur F. and Mary J. O’Neil Director of the Eugene D. Fanning Center for Business Communication. In a career spanning four decades, he has earned an international reputation in business and corporate communication. Business Week magazine has named him one of the “outstanding faculty” in Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business.   In 2004, he was named as recipient of the Fifth Annual John A. Kaneb Teaching Award in the Mendoza College of Business and was recognized during the University’s 159th Commencement exercises.   His publications include Management Communication: A Case Analysis Approach (3rd edition, Prentice-Hall, 2007), and Business Communication: A Framework for Success (Thomson Learning, 2001). Professor O’Rourke is senior editor of an eight-book series on Managerial Communication from Thomson Learning and is principal author or directing editor of more than 130 management and corporate communication case studies.   Professor O’Rourke is a graduate of Notre Dame with advanced degrees from Temple University, the University of New Mexico, and a doctorate in Communication from the S. I. Newhouse School of Syracuse University. He has held faculty appointments in such schools as the United States Air Force Academy, the Defense Information School, the United States Air War College, and the Communications Institute of Ireland. He was a Gannett Foundation Teaching Fellow at Indiana University in the 1980s, and a graduate student in language and history at Christ’s College, Cambridge University in England during the 1970s. He has delivered invited lectures at leading universities in Denmark, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Singapore.   Professor O’Rourke is a trustee of both The Arthur W. Page Society and the Institute for Public Relations. He is a member of the Reputation Institute and the Management Communication Association. He is also a regular consultant to Fortune 500 and mid-size businesses throughout North America. Dr. O’Rourke and his wife, Pam, have three daughters: Colleen (St. Mary’s College, 1994), Molly (Notre Dame, 2000), and Kathleen (Notre Dame, 2007).